Observational Study Design
An observational study is used to answer a research question based purely on what the
researcher observes. There is no interference or manipulation of the research subjects, and
no control and treatment groups.
These studies are often qualitative in nature and can be used for both exploratory and
explanatory research purposes. While quantitative observational studies exist, they are less
common.
Observational studies are generally used in hard science, medical, and social science fields.
This is often due to ethical or practical concerns that prevent the researcher from conducting
a traditional experiment. However, the lack of control and treatment groups means that
forming inferences is difficult, and there is a risk of confounding variables and observer bias
impacting your analysis.
Types of observational studies
There are three main types of observational studies: cohort studies, case–control studies, and
cross-sectional studies.
1. Cohort studies
Cohort studies are more longitudinal in nature, as they follow a group of participants over a
period of time. Members of the cohort are selected because of a shared characteristic, such
as smoking, and they are often observed over a period of years.
2. Case–control studies
Case–control studies bring together two groups, a case study group and a control group. The
case study group has a particular attribute while the control group does not. The two groups
are then compared, to see if the case group exhibits a particular characteristic more than the
control group.
For example, if you compared smokers (the case study group) with non-smokers (the control
group), you could observe whether the smokers had more instances of lung disease than the
non-smokers.
3. Cross-sectional studies
Cross-sectional studies analyze a population of study at a specific point in time. This often
involves narrowing previously collected data to one point in time to test the prevalence of a
theory—for example, analyzing how many people were diagnosed with lung disease in March
of a given year. It can also be a one-time observation, such as spending one day in the lung
disease wing of a hospital.
Experimental Study Designs
Experiments are used to study causal relationships. You manipulate one or more independent
variables and measure their effect on one or more dependent variables.
Experimental design create a set of procedures to systematically test a hypothesis. A good
experimental design requires a strong understanding of the system you are studying.
There are five key steps in designing an experiment:
• Consider your variables and how they are related
• Write a specific, testable hypothesis
• Design experimental treatments to manipulate your independent variable
• Assign subjects to groups, either between-subjects or within-subjects
• Plan how you will measure your dependent variable
Experimental Research Design Types
There are three primary types of experimental design:
1. Pre-Experimental Design:
A group, or various groups, are kept under observation after implementing cause and effect
factors. You’ll conduct this research to understand whether further investigation is necessary
for these particular groups.
You can break down pre-experimental research further in three types:
• One-shot Case Study Research Design
• One-group Pretest-posttest Research Design
• Static-group Comparison
2. True Experimental Design:
It relies on statistical analysis to prove or disprove a hypothesis, making it the most accurate
form of research. Of the types of experimental design, only true design can establish a cause-
effect relationship within a group. In a true experiment, three factors need to be satisfied:
• There is a Control Group, which won’t be subject to changes, and an Experimental
Group, which will experience the changed variables.
• A variable that can be manipulated by the researcher
• Random distribution
This experimental research method commonly occurs in the physical sciences.
3. Quasi-Experimental Design:
The word “Quasi” indicates similarity. A quasi-experimental design is similar to an
experimental one, but it is not the same. The difference between the two is the assignment
of a control group. In this research, an independent variable is manipulated, but the
participants of a group are not randomly assigned. Quasi-research is used in field settings
where random assignment is either irrelevant or not required.