Non-experimental research: what is it, features, advantages and examples?

A very common type of research in areas such as psychology, the measurement of unemployment rates, consumer studies or opinion polls is the non-experimental research.

Learn more about their features, benefits, and when to use them.

What is non-experimental research?

Non-experimental research is the type of research in which there is no independent variable. Instead, the researcher observes the context in which the phenomenon occurs and analyses it to obtain information.

In contrast to experimental research, in which the variables are kept constant, non-experimental research is conducted when the researcher cannot control, manipulate, or change the subjects during the study, but relies on interpretations or observations to reach a conclusion reach. This means that the method cannot rely on correlations, surveys or case studies and cannot demonstrate a true cause-and-effect relationship.

The researchers are not directly involved in the experiment. Since it is an observational method, it is also used for descriptive research.

Characteristics of non-experimental research

Some of the key features of non-experimental research are:

1. Most studies are based on events that occurred in the past and are analysed retrospectively.
2. This method does not involve conducting controlled experiments, for example for ethical or moral reasons.
3. No study samples are created; on the contrary, the samples or participants already exist and are developing in their environment.
4. The researcher does not intervene directly in the sample's environment.
5. This method examines phenomena exactly as they occurred.

When is non-experimental research used?

Non-experimental research can be applied in the following cases:

• When the research question relates to one variable rather than a statistical relationship between two variables.
• In studies where the research question involves a non-causal statistical relationship between variables.
• When the research question has a causal relationship but the independent variable cannot be manipulated.
• In exploratory or broad-based research that focuses on a specific experience.

Advantages and disadvantages of non-experimental research

Some Benefits of non-experimental research are:

• She is very flexible during the research process
• The cause of the phenomenon is known and the effect of the phenomenon is being investigated.
• The researcher can determine the characteristics of the study group.

All disadvantages include:

• The groups are not representative of the entire population.
• There may be errors in the methodology that lead to bias.

Non-experimental research is based on the observation of phenomena in their natural environment. This way they can be examined later to reach a conclusion.

Types of non-experimental research

Non-experimental research can take the following forms:

Cross-sectional research: In cross-sectional research, a precise point in time of the study is observed and analysed to capture different study groups or samples. This type of research is divided into:

• Descriptive: When values ​​are observed in which one or more variables are represented so that a description of the variables is made when the data is obtained.
• Causal research: Its task is to explain the reasons and the relationship that exists between the variables at a certain point in time.

Longitudinal research: In a longitudinal study, researchers attempt to analyse the changes and evolution of the relationships between variables over time. Longitudinal research can be divided into:

• trend: when they examine the changes to which the study group is generally exposed.
  Group development: when the study group is a smaller sample.
• Panel: when individual and group changes are analysed to identify the factor that causes them.

Examples of non-experimental research

Examples of non-experimental research include statistical surveys, which survey public opinion on an issue to determine a common viewpoint. Or surveys, where a set of statistical data is available and these are interpreted and organized to obtain as much relevant data as possible.

Another possible example is bibliographic research: consulting bibliographic or newspaper sources, reading previous authors, and presenting the results in a report, essay, or monograph. In this case too, it is not about controlled experiments, but about the professional and/or personal perspective of the author consulted or the researcher himself.

Conclusion

Non-experimental research is one type of research, which does not draw its final conclusions and working data through a series of reproducible actions and reactions in a controlled environment to obtain interpretable results, that is, through experiments. Of course, this does not mean that it is not serious, documented and methodologically rigorous research.

Choosing an experimental or non-experimental research design depends on your goals and resources. If you need help conducting research and collecting relevant data, or have questions about the best approach to your research goals, contact us today. You can create an account with our survey software and use over 88 features, including dashboard and reports, for free.

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KEYWORDS OF THIS BLOG POST

non-experimental research | non-experimental | Research