What is a common drawback of using a correlational study?

A common drawback of using a correlational study lies in its inability to establish cause-and-effect relationships. Correlational studies are designed to identify the presence and strength of relationships between two or more variables, but they do not provide insight into whether one variable influences or causes changes in another. Since correlation does not imply causation, the results can lead to misleading interpretations; for instance, two variables may be correlated due to a third variable that affects both. This limitation highlights the importance of recognizing that while correlations can signal associations worth exploring further, additional research methods, such as experimental designs, are needed to clarify causal relationships. Thus, option C accurately reflects this significant drawback of correlational studies.