Description: The ‘Natural Experiment’ refers to an empirical study in which individuals are exposed to experimental and control conditions determined by nature or external factors beyond the researchers’ control. Unlike controlled experiments, where researchers manipulate specific variables, natural experiments take advantage of situations that are already occurring in the environment. This allows researchers to observe the effects of these conditions in a realistic context, which can provide valuable insights into behaviors, decisions, and outcomes in various fields such as public health, economics, and sociology. Natural experiments are particularly useful when direct manipulation of variables is not ethical or practical. For example, a change in public policy or a natural event can serve as a natural experiment, allowing researchers to analyze its effects on the affected population. This approach is fundamental in data science and statistics, as it enables data collection in real-world situations, facilitating predictive analysis and the identification of patterns that may not be evident in more controlled studies.
