EX POST FACTO RESEARCH

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

References

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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