Show how experimental and correlational research complement each other


Show how experimental and correlational research complement each other. Often, correlational research suggests causal hypotheses that can then be tested in the lab. Alternatively, lab research may suggest relationships that should be observed in the real world. Two excellent sources that illustrate the complementary relationship between lab and field work are

Frank, M. G. & Gilovich, T. (1988). The dark side of self- and other perception:

Black uniforms and aggression in professional sports. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 54, 74-85.

(Note that part of the above article is in Appendix B of the text.)

Kerber, K. W. (1988). Rewards, costs, and helping: A demonstration of the complementary

nature of experimental and correlational research. In Ware, M. E. & Brewer, C. L. (Eds.). Handbook for teaching

statistics and research methods. Hillsdale, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.

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