What is a static group design?

A static group design is a research methodology used in Social Sciences that involves comparing two or more groups to assess the effects of an intervention or treatment without random assignment. In this design, one group receives the treatment while the other serves as a control, and data is collected at a single point in time. This design allows researchers to observe differences between groups, but it may be susceptible to confounding variables since participants are not randomly assigned. As a result, causal inferences may be limited compared to experimental designs.