Natural experimental studies exist as a distinct type of experimental study.
Notes on verification
Multiple independent sources (Wikipedia, Britannica, tutor2u, peer-reviewed methodology paper) confirm natural experiments are widely recognized as a distinct study type, though some note they are technically a form of observational study rather than a true controlled experiment.
Sources
- Experiment (en.wikipedia.org)
- https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12874-021-01224-x (link.springer.com)
- https://www.tutor2u.net/psychology/reference/types-of-experiment-overview (tutor2u.net)