Compare Correlational Research and Survey Research

Abstract

This essay will compare Correlational research and Survey research. We will find the differences and their likenesses. We will compare their validity, strengths and weaknesses. We will provide the conclusion that is reached after doing the comparison of each.

Introduction

In order to be able to compare and contrast both correlational research and survey research we must first define each one. The second thing that must be done is to find out what their strengths and weaknesses are. Then we must find out what their validations are for both and what the generalziability is for each one. In order to do a thorough comparison of each one we must also find out what technique each one uses and how reliable it is. When we have gathered all this information we will then compare and contrast each one in relation to the other. We will do research on both of them in order to be able to get a better understanding of how they both work.

Correlational Research

Correlation research is the statistics that are used in order to identify the amount of variation that is in one variable as it relates to the function of the variation, as related to the another variable. The correlational research designs were founded on the belief that reality is can be described as a network of interacting and mutually causal relationships. What this is actually saying is that everything is affected by everything; and everything has a cause and effect. There are three different results, the first is a negative correlation, the second is a positive correlation, and the last one has no correlation at all (Davis & Palladino, 2007).

The research techniques that correlation research uses are coefficient and can have a value ranging from -1.00 to +1.00 no higher and no lower (Davis & Palladino, 2007). What this tells us is, if the relationship between the values of two variables is correlated. This is when the correlational research is done in order to carry out a particular statistical analysis test.

The reliability when using this method is different. There are different grades of reliability they are as follows; .30-.65, .68-75. and .85-.95 and above are considered to be low medium and strong correlation ranges (Metropolitan State College of Denver, 2009).

The validity of correlational research is considered to be good, if the experimental study is done following the same condition that it did before, or there will be the possibility that the validity of the results that were obtained could be questioned.

The generalziability of the correlational research are very helpful because it allows a researcher to evaluate the variables more accurately if all the variable are equal, and in turn they can be generalizable to a similar group of participants for the same experimental conditions.

The strengths of the correlational method are that the reliability and validity of the correlation research is usually better than the others and more reliable than other methods.

The weaknesses of the correlation methods may be that they could have errors that are mainly caused by a third or unknown variable, which had not been directly studied or accounted for in the original research that was done. This will make the results unreliable unless a systematic research design was put into place prior to the research in order to account for all the variables and their effects in this particular research.

Survey Research Method

The Survey research method is used for collecting data, it is also given in the form of a formal assessment scales that has a system where the choices can be scored. Survey research is simply gathering data from participants by using a questionnaire or interview (Davis & Palladino, 2007).

The research techniques of the surveys research method is known to have a 3, 5 or 7-point scale of choices for participants to chose from. Surveys are easy for participants to take when they are kept short. They are scored according to the design that the giver created for their scoring method. Some surveys are scored according to each pre set point given to each one of the items that appear on the survey (NC State University, 2009).

The reliability of the survey research method depends greatly on the type of survey and how the survey that is given. If the surveys are given to individual participants and depending on the type of survey then their answers may all be different or varying, then each survey that is obtained will be unique and that is the reason that it is not considered suitable for reliable research, because the individual differences of the participants can make a huge impact on a population based study (NC State University, 2009).

The validity of a survey will depend on the survey and how it is given. The survey items will have to be accurately constructed in order for the validity of the survey to remain intact. The question on the questionnaire has to be written where it is not bias. If this is not done properly then the statements on a survey will not be able to capture the information accurately.

These surveys were meant to be used to record information about a particular subject, by all the participants that were based on their own unique answers to the questions asked. The survey results are not easy to be generalized especially if all the participants that took the surveys were of a particular demographically similar group of participants (NC State University, 2009).

The strengths of these surveys are that they can be given in a short period of time to a whole group of people. Their scoring that is used is easy to perform, and