Ex post facto research

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Ex Post Facto Research

Ex post facto research is a Latin phrase 'retroactive' means 'from a thing done after'.

Ex post facto research is deal for conducting social research when it is not possible or acceptable to manipulate the characteristics of human participants.

Ex post facto design is a Quasi-experiment study to manipulate how an independent variable present prior to the study in the participants affects a dependent variable a Quasi- experimental study simply means participants are not randomly assigned

Figure 1

Figure related to ex post

The research starts after the fact that occurred
Investigation starts ‘’after the facts’’
Also known as casual comparative research
Manipulation is not possible in this research
Cause and effect relationship

Characteristics of ex post facto research

The research has a control or a comparison group.
The behavior action event or independent variable of the research cannot be manipulated.
The research focuses on the effects.
The research tries to analyze the 'how' and 'what' aspects of an event.
Explore possible effects and causes.

Two Approaches to Ex Post Facto Research

One comments with subject who differs on an independent variable.
One comments with subjects who differ on the dependent variable

Figure 2

Steps of Ex Post Facto Research

Determining the problem
Literature review
Formulation of hypothesis
Designing the approach
Validity of the research
Interpretation of the conclusion

Strengths Of Ex Post Facto Research

It is considered as a very relevant method in those behavioural researchers where the variable cannot be manipulated or altered.
It is more useful than an Experimental research as it can be used in analysing a cause on the basis of the effect which is impossible in an experimental research.
It is less time consuming as well as economical.
Ex post Research gives a chance to the researcher to analyse on the basis of his personal opinion and then comes out with the best possible conclusion.

Weakness of Ex Post Facto Research

The research can't be manipulated the independent variable.
The research can't randomly assign the subject to different groups.
The research may not be able to provide a responsible explanation for the relationship between the independence and dependent variable under study.

Table 1

Table shows Comparison between Ex post facto research

Ex post facto research	Experimental research
The research starts after the facts have occurred	It is a scientific method of study
Investigation starts after the facts	Purpose to determine the relationship between the two variables
It is also known as casual comparative research	Rejection or acceptance of hypothesis
The researcher identified the event that already occurred	Observation and conclusion
Manipulation is not possible in this research	Reasonable conclusion regarding relationship between the variables
Cause and effect relationship	Provable research
E.g : study on causes after the effects of an earthquake	eg: when scientist gave rats a new medicine and see how they react to medicine

Conclusion

An exposed to factor resource design is a method in which groups with qualities that already exist are compared on some dependent variable also known as 'after the fact Research' and exposed factor design is considered the quasi experiment because the subjects are not randomly assigned they are group rebase or a particular characteristics or trait.

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