What is the difference between experimental and correlation designs?

Experimental designs establish cause and effect. This is done through manipulation of the independent variable (IV) to see the effect on the dependent variable (DV). Correlations cannot establish cause and effect. Correlations simply look at the relationship between two variables and see if it is: positive (both increase), negative (one increases, one decreases), or there is no relationship. "Correlation does not equal causation."

IM
Answered by Isabella M. Psychology tutor

16467 Views

See similar Psychology A Level tutors

Related Psychology A Level answers

All answers ▸

What different types of 16 mark questions will I answer?


Write the name of each of the four components of the working memory model in the space provided.


Outline two types of determinism


What is random sampling and how might a psychologist obtain a random sample of participants for an experiment?


We're here to help

contact us iconContact ustelephone icon+44 (0) 203 773 6020
Facebook logoInstagram logoLinkedIn logo

MyTutor is part of the IXL family of brands:

© 2025 by IXL Learning