Correlations and Confounding Variables - Essay Example

Among the study, characteristics are correlations and confounding variables. These research aspects influence the study in one way or another, in line with the objectives and hypothesis of the study.

The article on Obesity in Latino Children seeks to identify factors that can be associated with overweight and obesity observed in Latino children (Kornides, Kitsantas, Yang & Villarruel, 2011). The study exhibited both correlations and confounding factors. Correlation in research studies implies the characteristic relationship between the variables treated in the study. Specifically, the correlation between variables implies that a change in one variable is accompanied by a change in another variable as a result of the first change (Kornides, Kitsantas, Yang & Villarruel, 2011). In other words, with one or more variables whose change induces a change in another variable or variables, all the variables involved are said to be correlated.

The study presented in the article seeks to identify factors that are primarily associated with obesity and overweight scenarios observed in Latino children. The study takes into account what other kinds of literature have said about the issue and critiques the information contained therein. The study also identifies research loopholes in the literature considered in line with the current trends in the issue around the time the study was conducted in the year 2011. Challenges that characterized the study are highlighted and future research propositions made on the subject matter of the study.

Research studies also employ confounding variables to aid the treatment of objectives and hypotheses being examined. Confounding variables are research aiding tools that are crucial in the examination of the topic of study but are relatively hard to measure or account for in the research undertaking (Kornides, Kitsantas, Yang & Villarruel, 2011). In other words, they are crucial aiding variables in a study in that they complement the dependent and independent research variables. Although confounding variables are not directly examined in the study, they enhance the inferences made by backing up the primary dependent and independent variables.

Correlations are observed in the study presented by the article, with exercise, diet, genetics, and the environment constituting the correlation variables (Kornides, Kitsantas, Yang & Villarruel, 2011). Change in one or more of the variables influence the behavior of one or more of the highlighted variables. On the other hand, acculturation and immigration status are highlighted as confounding variables (Kornides, Kitsantas, Yang & Villarruel, 2011).