The non-experimental research It is one in which the study variables are not controlled or manipulated. To develop the research, the authors observe the phenomena to be studied in their natural environment, obtaining the data directly to analyze them later..
The difference between non-experimental and experimental research is that in the latter, variables are manipulated and the study is carried out in controlled settings. For example, in an experimental investigation, gravity is studied by intentionally dropping a stone from various heights.
On the other hand, in non-experimental research, researchers go, if necessary, to the place where the phenomenon to be studied occurs. For example, to know the drinking habits of young people, surveys are carried out or it is directly observed how they do it, but they are not offered a drink.
This type of research is very common in fields such as psychology, measurement of unemployment rates, consumer studies or opinion polls. In general, these are pre-existing events, developed under their own laws or internal rules..
The first characteristic of this type of research is that there is no manipulation of the variables studied.
Usually these are phenomena that have already occurred and are analyzed a posteriori. Apart from this characteristic, other peculiarities present in these designs can be pointed out:
Compared to what happens with experimental research, in non-experimental research the variables studied are not deliberately manipulated. The way to proceed is to observe the phenomena to be analyzed as they appear in their natural context.
In this way, there are no stimuli or conditions for the subjects being studied. These are in their natural environment, without being transferred to any laboratory or controlled environment.
The existing variables are of two different types. The first ones are the independent calls, while the so-called dependent ones are a direct consequence of the previous ones..
In this type of research, the relationship of causes and effects is investigated to draw valid conclusions.
Since situations are not created expressly to investigate them, it can be said that non-experimental designs study existing situations developed under their own internal rules..
In fact, another name that is given is that of investigations ex post facto; that is, on accomplished facts.
The main difference between both types of research is that in experimental designs there is a manipulation of the variables by the researcher. Once the desired conditions are created, studies measure their effects.
On the other hand, in non-experimental investigations this manipulation does not exist, but the data is collected directly in the environment in which the events occur..
It cannot be said that one method is better than the other. Each one is equally valid depending on what is going to be studied and / or the perspective that the researcher wants to give to his work..
Due to its own characteristics, if the research is experimental, it will be much easier to repeat it to ensure the results..
However, the control of the environment makes some variables that may appear spontaneously more difficult to measure. It is just the opposite of what happens with non-experimental designs.
This type of non-experimental research design is used to observe and record data at a specific and, by its very nature, unique time. In this way, the analysis that is carried out is focused on the effects of a phenomenon that occurs at a particular moment..
As an example, we can mention the study of the consequences of an earthquake on housing in a city or the rates of school failure in a given year. It can also take more than one variable, making the study a more complex one.
The transversal design allows covering diverse groups of individuals, objects or phenomena. When developing them, they can be divided into two different groups:
Contrary to what happens with the previous design, in the longitudinal design the researchers intend to analyze the changes that certain variables undergo over time. It is also possible to investigate how the relationships between these variables evolve during this period..
To achieve this objective it is necessary to collect data at different points in time. There are three types within this design:
In general, these designs are made for the study of events that have already happened and, therefore, it is impossible for the variables to be controlled. They are very frequent in statistical fields of all kinds, both to measure the incidence of some factors and for opinion studies.
A classic example of non-experimental research is studies on the effects of alcohol on the human body. As it is unethical to give the subjects studied to drink, these designs are used to obtain results.
The way to achieve this would be to go to the places where alcohol is regularly consumed. There the degree that this substance reaches in the blood is measured (or data can be taken from the police or a hospital). With this information, the different individual reactions will be compared, drawing conclusions about it..
Any survey that tries to measure the opinion of a certain group on a topic is carried out using non-experimental designs. For example, electoral polls are very common in most countries.
It would only be necessary to collect the statistics of the results of the schoolchildren offered by the educational centers themselves. If, in addition, you want to complete the study, you can search for information on the socioeconomic level of the students.
Analyzing each data and relating them to each other, a study is obtained about how the socioeconomic level of families affects the performance of schoolchildren.
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