Natural experiment

How it is used

The researcher exploits variation rather than assigning the exposure.

Example sentences

1. The unexpected school closure created a natural experiment for our attendance study.

   An external event produced the comparison opportunity.

2. Researchers used the funding lottery as a natural experiment in educational access.

   Allocation occurred outside the researchers' control.

Common collocations

• use a natural experiment
• natural experiment setting

Related terms

• study designThe overall plan for how a study will answer its research question, including methods, sample, measures, and timing.
• research methodA specific way of collecting or analyzing information in order to answer a research question.

More terms: Research Design

• research
• research question
• hypothesis
• methodology
• qualitative
• quantitative
• sample
• participant
• questionnaire
• case study
• carry out
• validity