A study that often attempts to understand how variables are related to each other is referred to as?

The correct response focuses on explanatory studies, which are designed specifically to understand the relationships between variables. In these studies, researchers explore the connections and influences that one variable may have on another, aiming to clarify how and why these relationships occur. This often involves hypothesis testing where the causal links are examined, rather than merely describing or summarizing the data.

In contrast, descriptive statistics primarily summarize or describe the characteristics of a dataset without making inferential claims about relationships. Predictive studies, on the other hand, focus on using existing data to forecast future outcomes rather than explicitly exploring relationships. Lastly, inferential statistics involve making generalizations about a population based on sample data, but they do not necessarily delve into the relational aspects of the variables within the study, which is the central aim of explanatory studies. Thus, the emphasis on understanding the relationships among variables rightly identifies explanatory studies as the appropriate choice.