Ex Post Facto Research
The present unit will focus on the
concept, meaning, significance and types of ex-post facto research. Research
can be briefly explained as an objective based, specific and the systematic
process of exploring new knowledge, skills, behaviour, attitudes and values as
well as practices, or for the re-interpretation of existing knowledge,
behaviour, skills, attitudes and values. Based on the research goal or problem,
the selection of research method by the researcher may vary. When the
researcher wants to study the cause of an event which has already occurred as
an effect of the cause, then the research conducted is known as ‘ex post facto’
research(‘Ex
Post Facto Research Design definition | Psychology Glossary | alleydog.com’,
n.d.).
Objectives
Define ex-post facto research
Explain the characteristics of the
ex-post facto research
Steps of the ex-post facto research; and
Explain the strengths and weaknesses of the ex-post
facto research
Concept and Meaning
of Ex-Post Facto Research
The ex-post facto research is a
kind of research in which the researcher predicts the possible causes behind an
effect that has already occurred. For example, if a child is delinquent (that
is, one who indulges in criminal activities), then in order to find the basic
reason behind such delinquency, the researcher would try to find out the
various events that have occurred and the many possibilities that could have
contributed to the concerned delinquent behaviour. The expected possibilities
may be lack of discipline at school/ family history/ peer effect/ neighbourhood
or socialisation. It is an interesting point to note that, the researcher
predicts a cause on the basis of a controlled effect (since no variation can be
done on the effect which has already taken place on the basis of the
independent variable or the cause). Thus, an ex-post facto research can be
defined as an empirically based investigation which does not involve the
researchers’ direct control over the 21 independent variables because they have
already led to effects which can no Ex-Post Facto Research more be manipulated.
Table:1
Research
investigation
Method
|
Investigates cause
and effect
|
Manipulates
variables
|
Randomly assigns
participants
to groups
|
Involves group
comparison
|
Casual comparative
research
|
yes
|
no
|
no
|
yes
|
Correlational
research
|
no
|
no
|
no
|
no
|
Experimental research
|
yes
|
yes
|
yes
|
yes
|
Characteristics
of Ex Post Facto Research
The research has
a control or a comparison group
As the research is done on basis of the study of the
cause which has already led to its effects, it becomes necessary for the
researcher to keep a control group, which can be used for comparison with the
actual experimental group later on, in order to analyse the cause of an already
occurred event.
The behaviour,
action, event or the treatment or the independent variable of the research
cannot be manipulated or changed
As the ex-post research is a kind of study which
tries to predict the causes on the basis of actions that have already occurred,
the researcher cannot manipulate or change the already occurred actions or
behaviour.
The research
focuses on the effects
Since the researcher tries to analyse and predict
the reasons behind the occurrence of an event or phenomena, their first attempt
is to focus on the event or the phenomena that has already occurred. Only after
having a detailed study of the phenomena or the event, the researcher tries to
determine the causes behind such an event or phenomena.
The research
tries to analyse the ‘how’ and ‘what’ aspect of an event
Since the researcher tries to understand the causal
effects behind a phenomena, the research basically focuses on how and what
reasons that has led that phenomena to occur.
Explores
possible effects and causes
With the help of an ex-post facto research, the
researcher tries to analyse the cause and effect phenomena of an event, action
or behaviour.
Figure:1
Two types of experiments
Steps of Ex-Post
Facto Research
The
process of ex-post facto research is systematic and follows a definite
sequence. As mentioned by Isaac and Michael (1971), the following are the steps
involved in the expost facto research(‘Ex
posto facto research method’, n.d.).
Step
1. Determining
the problem
In an ex-post
facto research, it is necessary for the researcher to focus on the problem that
he or she needs to study. They not only need to find out a problem, they also
need to determine, analyse and define the problem which they will be dealing
with. Step 2. Literature Review
Before trying to
predict the causal relationships, the researcher needs to study all the related
or similar literature and relevant studies, which may help in further analysis,
prediction and conclusion of the causal relationship between the variables
under study.
Step 3. Formulation of hypothesis
The third step of the ex-post facto research
is to propose the possible solutions or alternatives that might have led to the
effect. They need to list out the assumptions which will be the basis of the
hypothesis and procedure of the research. 24 Types of Research
Step 4.
Designing the approach
Once the problem
has been defined and the hypothesis has been postulated, the researcher needs
to select the sample which fits the criteria of the study. They also need to
select the scale or construct instrument for collecting the required
information / data. Designed all data or variables.Once the designing are all
finalised, the researcher analyses the relationship between the variables.
Step
5. Validity of the research
The researcher needs to validate the
significance of their research. They need to be cautious regarding the extent
to which their findings would be valid and significant and helpful in
interpreting and drawing inferences from the obtained results.
Step 6.
Interpretation of the conclusion
Finally, the researcher needs to analyse,
evaluate and interpret the information collected. It is on basis of this step only;
the researcher selects the best possible alternative of causes which might have
led the effect to occur.
Strengths and
Weaknesses of Ex-Post Facto Research
The strengths of the ex-post
facto research are: It is considered as a
very relevant method in those behavioural researches where the variables cannot
be manipulated or altered. The examples of such researches can include many
sociological (e.g. delinquency) as well as educational variables (e.g.
achievements). It is more useful than an experimental research as it can be
used in analysing a cause on basis of the effect, which is impossible in an
experimental research. 25 It is less time consuming as well as economical.
Ex-Post Facto Research It gives a chance to the researcher to analyse on basis
of his personal opinion and then come out with the best possible conclusion.
The
weaknesses as well as the limitations of the ex-post facto research are: As
discussed earlier, in an ex-post facto research, the researcher cannot
manipulate the independent variables. The researcher cannot randomly assign the
subjects to different groups. The researcher may not be able to provide a
reasonable explanation for the relationship between the independent and
dependent variables under study(‘What
is ex-post facto research? What do you mean by archival research method? -
Owlgen.com’, n.d.).
Let
Us Sum Up
It can therefore be concluded that the ex-post
facto research holds a very good position in the field of behavioural sciences.
It is the only method which is retrospective in nature, that is, with the help
of this method one can trace the history in order to analyse the cause/
reason/action from an effect/behaviour/ event that has already occurred.
Although it is a very significant method, yet it has certain limitations as well.
The researcher cannot manipulate the cause in order to see the alterations on
its effect. This again marks a question on the validity of the findings of the
research. Equally the researcher cannot randomly assign the subjects in to
groups and has no control over the variables. Yet, it is one of the very useful
methods as it has several implications in the field of applied research as well
as behavioural sciences. The investigator can predict the relationship between
the variables on basis of an already existing output or effect
Ex Post Facto Research Design definition
| Psychology Glossary | alleydog.com. (n.d.). Retrieved 21 August 2019, from https://www.alleydog.com/glossary/definition.php?term=Ex+Post+Facto+Research+Design
Ex posto facto
research method. (n.d.). Retrieved 21 August 2019, from
https://www.slideshare.net/ZarghamFaramarzi/ex-posto-facto-research-method
What is ex-post
facto research? What do you mean by archival research method? - Owlgen.com.
(n.d.). Retrieved 21 August 2019, from
https://www.owlgen.com/question/what-is-ex-post-facto-research-what-do-you-mean-by-archival-research-method
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