CHES (Certified Health Education Specialist) 2025 – 400 Free Practice Questions to Pass the Exam

The correct answer is the type of research design that features manipulation of the study factor without the random assignment of subjects, which is known as quasi-experimental design. In quasi-experimental research, the researcher actively manipulates an independent variable to observe its effects on a dependent variable, similar to experimental designs. However, unlike true experimental designs, quasi-experiments do not use random assignment to allocate subjects to different groups. This can sometimes result in groups that are not equivalent at the start of the intervention, making it important for researchers to consider potential confounding variables and ensure that their findings are interpreted with this limitation in mind.

Quasi-experimental designs are often used in settings where random assignment is impractical or unethical. For example, if researchers are studying the effects of a new educational program in a school setting, they may implement the program in one classroom and compare it to another classroom that does not use the program, rather than randomly assigning students to groups.

In contrast, randomized controlled trials utilize random assignment, ensuring that each participant has an equal chance of being placed in either the experimental or control group, thus helping to eliminate selection bias. Field studies, which observe and analyze behavior in natural settings without manipulation, and descriptive studies, which focus on providing a