Observational Designs
Observational vs. Experimental designs
The experimental and observation designs differ based on a number of aspects. Fundamentally, experimental design involves manipulation of one section of the participants known as experimental group. Regarding observation, there is no interfering with participants of phenomenon. Observation is a visual study for collecting data on how an object of study behaves and does primarily in their natural setting. It is adopts an induction approach as it is begins with observations forming the basis of theory. Some observation design such as analytical quantifies the connection between exposure and outcome variable as it occurs naturally without manipulation. Besides, experimental design is reliant of structured procedures that replicated by other researchers. It is applies a deductive approach starting with a theory as the basis for testing to come with outcomes.
Type of Research Question for this Design
The observation is commonly used to gather qualitative and sometimes quantitative data for exploratory or descriptive research. The exploratory research questions are developed for the observational designs. However, experimental design is conducted to gather quantitative data determine the effects of intervention or treatment on the study subjects. The research cause-effect research question common in this design as the responses are subjected to statistical analysis.
Analytical Observational Design Article
An example of observational analytical design is a cohort study by Viljakainen et al. (2011). The primary objective was to determine an association between material’s level of vitamin D and newborn born health. The article is classified under analytical observational design because it assesses the relationship between newborns born health as a based on the maternal level of vitamin D during pregnancy. There was no manipulation of any groups in the study as is the case in experimental design. The values were also quantified to provide the causal relationship between exposure and the outcome. The first objective was to assess whether the skeletal effects associated with vitamin D at birth persist into first year of newborn’s life. The second objective was to examine the effects post-natal status of vitamin D on early infancy growth and development. In conclusion, the study managed to address these primary objectives.
References
Viljakainen, H. T., Korhonen, T., Hytinantti, T., Laitinen, E. K. A., Andersson, S., Mäkitie, O., & Lamberg-Allardt, C. (2011). Maternal vitamin D status affects bone growth in early childhood—a prospective cohort study. Osteoporosis international, 22(3), 883-891. Retrieved from https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00198-010-1499-4