A cross-sectional study, also known as a cross-sectional analysis, or transversal study, is a type of observational study that analyzes data collected from a population, or a representative subset, at a specific point in time, that is, cross-sectional data. Cross-sectional studies differ from case-control studies in that they aim to provide data on the entire…
Category: Science
What Is An Observational Study?
An observational study draws inferences from a sample to a population where the independent variable is not under the control of the researcher because of ethical concerns or logistical constraints. One common observational study is about the possible effect of a treatment on subjects, where the assignment of subjects into a treated group versus a…
What Is A Longitudinal Study?
A longitudinal study is a quasi-experimental research design that involves repeated observations of the same variables (e.g., people) over long periods of time, often many decades (i.e., uses longitudinal data). It is often a type of observational study, although they can also be structured as longitudinal randomized experiments. Longitudinal studies are often used in psychology,…
What Are Randomized Controlled Trials?
A randomized controlled trial (RCT) is a type of scientific experiment which aims to reduce bias when testing a new treatment. The people participating in the trial are randomly allocated to either the group receiving the treatment under investigation or to a group receiving standard treatment (or placebo treatment) as the control. Randomization minimises selection…