Final answer:
A double displacement or metathesis reaction, such as an acid-base reaction, typically does not involve oxidation or reduction because no electrons are transferred between reactants; instead, ions or molecules are rearranged.
Step-by-step explanation:
The type of reaction that usually does not involve oxidation or reduction is a double displacement or metathesis reaction, such as an acid-base reaction. In these reactions, the exchange of partners occurs without any change in the oxidation numbers of any elements within the species. This happens because there is no transfer of electrons between the reactants. Instead, the components of the reactants simply exchange places, forming new products with their oxidation states intact.
To be more specific, double displacement reactions include neutralization reactions where an acid and a base react to form a salt and water, as well as precipitation reactions where two soluble salts react to form an insoluble salt, or precipitate. All species in these reactions retain the same oxidation numbers because these reactions involve the rearrangement of ions or molecules, not the transfer of electrons that would signify a change in oxidation states.