Strengths and Limitations of Correlational Design

Correlational designs have been used in all areas of research. Forensic psychology research is no exception. As you have seen from your readings, many phenomena do not lend themselves to true experimental design. For example, an experimental research study that looks at the effect of viewing violent content, either on television or in video games, would be more challenging, both practically and ethically, than a similar study using a correlational design. Correlational research designs allow researchers to study behavior as it occurs naturally. However, to do so probably would compromise the ability to draw cause-and-effect conclusions.