It is noted that research falls into four basic categories, depending on whether the goal is to describe patterns of behavior, thought, or emotion (descriptive research); to examine the relationship among naturally occurring variables (correlational research); to test cause-and-effect relationships by experimentally manipulating an independent variable to examine its effects on a dependent variable (experimental research); or to examine the possible effects of an event that cannot be controlled by the researcher (quasi-experimental research).
For each of the following research questions, indicate which kind of research-descriptive, correlational, experimental, or quasi-experimental-would be most appropriate.
a. What percentage of college students attend church regularly?
b. Does the artificial sweetener aspartame cause dizziness and confusion in some people?
c. What personality variables are related to depression?
d. What is the effect of a manager's style on employees' morale and performance?
e. Do SAT scores predict college performance?
f. Do state laws that mandate drivers to wear seat belts reduce traffic fatalities?
g. Does Prozac (a popular antidepression medication) help insomnia?
h. Does getting married make people happier?
i. Do most U.S. citizens support stronger gun control laws?