Experimental research involves the impact on a specific object or phenomenon under controlled conditions and fixing the values of the intended parameters. As an example of such work, one can cite the article by Juras et al. (2019), in which the authors use special criteria for sample selection and create a unique framework for testing the results. This approach allows comparing the results obtained from the two groups and evaluating the outcomes of the intervention. Unlike experimental studies, in quasi-experimental ones, researchers do not have a direct impact on the participants or the conditions of the experiment but use existing groups or parameters to study the processes of interest. The article by Ganle et al. (2021) is an example of such work where previously studied characteristics of the involved participants are examined in a new context. Following such a scheme does not require the preliminary development of individual tools for collecting information or other instruments that help process primary data.
Non-experimental studies are more common and do not require a unique setting to test specific variables. For instance, Daw and Sommers (2019) conduct an observational study in which they use publicly available data to check the dynamics of the problem they are analyzing. They do not develop an individual framework for their assessment and seek to identify certain correlations but not to prove the original hypothesis or theories by experiment. Thus, one can note that experimental research is the most labor-intensive in the context of developing a dedicated evaluation framework. Quasi-experimental and non-experimental studies are more common, but they do not offer individual evaluation algorithms and use available data to test them from new perspectives.
References
Daw, J. R., & Sommers, B. D. (2019). The Affordable Care Act and access to care for reproductive-aged and pregnant women in the United States, 2010-2016. American Journal of Public Health, 109(4), 565-571. Web.
Ganle, J. K., Ofori, C., & Dery, S. (2021). Testing the effect of an integrated-intervention to promote access to sexual and reproductive healthcare and rights among women with disabilities in Ghana: A quasi-experimental study protocol. Reproductive Health, 18, 206. Web.
Juras, R., Tanner-Smith, E., Kelsey, M., Lipsey, M., & Layzer, J. (2019). Adolescent pregnancy prevention: Meta-analysis of federally funded program evaluations. American Journal of Public Health, 109(4), e1-e8. Web.