A Level Psychology OCR Practice Exam

What does a natural/quasi experiment aim to establish?

1. A cause and effect relationship with random assignment

2. A cause and effect relationship without random assignment

3. A correlation without manipulation of variables

4. A unique observational study of a controlled experiment

The correct answer is: A cause and effect relationship without random assignment

A natural or quasi-experiment aims to establish a cause-and-effect relationship without the use of random assignment. In these types of studies, researchers do not manipulate the independent variable but observe the effects of naturally occurring variables. For instance, researchers may study the impact of a policy change or a natural event on different groups. By examining how these naturally occurring conditions affect the dependent variable, researchers can infer causal relationships, though with some limitations due to the lack of control over other confounding variables. This approach is particularly valuable when it is unethical or impractical to conduct a true experiment with random assignment, allowing researchers to observe real-world phenomena while still aiming to determine causal effects.