Have you prepared the most important questions from Block 2 Unit 2 for IGNOU MAPC MPC005 Exam? Don't miss this chance to score good marks - start NOW!

Block 2 Unit 2 Ex-Post Facto Research

1. Define ex-post facto research.

Ex-post facto research is conducted when a researcher attempts to find the cause of an event that has already occurred.

2. Explain the characteristics of ex-post facto research.

It is retrospective, non-manipulative, and focuses on exploring the cause of an event by examining existing data.

3. Differentiate between experimental and ex-post facto research.

Experimental research involves manipulating variables to observe the effect on dependent variables, with random assignment of subjects, while ex-post facto research explores the cause of an existing effect without manipulating variables or randomly assigning subjects.

4. Elucidate the sequence or steps of the ex-post facto research.

The steps include: problem definition, formulating hypotheses, data collection, and interpretation of results.

5. Explain the strengths and weaknesses of the ex-post facto research.

• Strengths: It can examine the cause of already occurred event and it is useful when the cause can not be manipulated..
• Weaknesses: It has limited control over variables, making it difficult to establish causality, and is vulnerable to post hoc fallacy.

Important Points

1. In a ex-post facto research design, the researcher tries to trace the history of an already occurred event
2. When the researcher wants to study the cause of an event then the research conducted is known as ‘ex post facto’ research
3. When the researcher tries to find out the future or potential results after manipulating the independent variables, then the researcher is actually trying to examine the prospective aspects of the research.
4. The researcher can use the principle of randomisation in an experimental research
5. The researcher can not manipulate variables in an ex-post facto research
6. The ex-post facto research can be defined as a kind of research where the cause or reason of an event/behavior/action which has already occurred is analysed and evaluated
7. The ex-post facto research is a kind of research in which the researcher predicts the possible cause/reason behind an effect/event that has already occurred.
8. The process of ex-post facto research is systematic and follows a definite sequence.
9. Once the problem has been defined, the hypothesis is postulated
10. Post hoc fallacy is a type of error in logic which might dominate the researchers’ logical thought process