Combined

Since one research method's weakness can be another method’s strength, social psychologists can combine research methodologies to reach more accurate conclusions (Kenrick, Neuberg, & Cialdini, 2007). The experimental method can help researchers to identify cause and effect, but the results are artificial. In contrast, the descriptive correlation method allows researchers to provide real-world data but does not allow cause-effect conclusions. Combining the approaches helps to balance out the weakness of one method with the strengths of the other.