What is an example of a correlational study?

A correlational study focuses on identifying and understanding the relationship between two or more variables without manipulating any of them. In this case, examining the relationship between hours spent studying and test scores among students perfectly illustrates this concept. Researchers would collect data on the number of hours students dedicate to studying and their resulting test scores to determine if there is a pattern or correlation between those two factors. This could help in understanding whether more study time is associated with better performance, but it does not involve any experimental manipulation of study time or testing conditions.

The other options involve different methodologies. For instance, testing the effectiveness of a new medication typically requires a controlled experiment where the medication is manipulated, and its effects observed (this is an example of experimental research). Detailed interviews of a patient with a rare condition represent a case study approach, focusing on an in-depth exploration of a single subject. Lastly, manipulating environmental factors to observe behavior effects aligns with experimental research, as it involves changing conditions to see the resulting behavior. This reinforces that option B distinctly aligns with the definition of a correlational study.