In non-experimental research, ex post facto or correlational studies are used to examine:

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Non-experimental research like ex post facto and correlational studies is about describing how variables relate to one another without manipulating any condition. In ex post facto designs, you start with a naturally occurring factor (for example, a history of a condition) and look for associations with outcomes, rather than assigning people to different groups or interventions. Correlational studies quantify how strongly and in what direction two or more variables co-vary. Because there’s no random assignment or experimental manipulation, these designs can reveal associations but cannot establish causation. This distinguishes them from randomized interventions or double-blind trials, which actively manipulate conditions to test causal effects. A longitudinal time-series may track how variables change over time, but the core purpose of ex post facto or correlational work is to describe relationships among variables.