Clinical intervention studies (CIS) play an essential role in investigating the scientific problem, which needs to be addressed in order to form a concise and full knowledge base. There are three main approaches in CIS, which include pre-experimental, quasi-experimental, and true experimental research designs (Holly, 2014). Each methodology possesses unique target points and is done under different circumstances. On the one hand, pre-experimental intervention studies mostly focus on explorative researches, where there is no sufficient knowledge to target a specific set of questions. On the other hand, true experimental CIS aims to give a full and precise explanation of the scientific phenomenon, where various independent variables are altered in order to acquire the results (Holly, 2014). Quasi-experimental research design is a transitionary phase between the given approaches, which is conducted with a goal of describing and depicting the topic of interest. It mostly uses data from pre-experimental studies and narrows the scope of focus by specifying and categorizing the raw information (Campbell et al., 2017). The quasi-experimental design also lacks the randomization factor, because no clear set of independent variables are present to alter.
Another key difference between quasi-experimental and true experimental researches is present in the control and target groups of study because the latter does not specifically assign the objects of analysis. It is important to note that randomization acts as a key factor in acquiring the most precise and unbiased results, but the quasi-experimental approach does not possess the given components. It is due to the lack of categorization of data, which enable identify interchangeable variables (Xu et al., 2019). The biggest advantage of pre-experimental methods is its relative inexpensiveness and simplicity, which gives a researcher an opportunity to conduct several studies simultaneous and in time efficient manner (Holly, 2014). All of the CIS designs are steps in the entire research process, where the study elements are explored, described, and explained.
References
Campbell, B. K., Fillingim, R. B., Lee, S., Brao, R., Price, D. D., & Neubert, J. K. (2017). Effects of high-dose capsaicin on TMD subjects: A randomized clinical study. JDR Clinical & Translational Research, 2(1), 58-65.
Holly, C. (2014). Scholarly inquiry and the DNP capstone. New York, US: Springer Publishing Company.
Xu, J., Huang, L., Yao, Z., Xu, Z., Zalkikar, J., & Tiwari, R. (2019). Statistical methods for clinical study site selection. Therapeutic Innovation & Regulatory Science, 1(1), 2-7.