Difference between retrospective and prospective
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Researchers may also use resources that are already documented or published, including medical reports and magazine or newspaper articles.ĭata collection for a prospective study includes researchers performing the interviews and observation themselves. In a retrospective study, researchers investigate existing information regarding exposure factors and their impact. The primary difference between retrospective and prospective studies is data collection. While theyre both types of cohort studies, there are several differences between the two which include: Data collection Prospective studies are often longitudinal, meaning that researchers then follow up with participants or track their health over time to monitor whether they develop the medical condition in question. Researchers may also design studies, recruit participants and collect baseline exposure data before the research subjects develop the medical condition.įor example, researchers would carry out a prospective study to learn about how people that are susceptible to a particular virus might react to exposure, without them actually developing the virus. This means that researchers collect and analyze data with the goal of developing medical treatments or tracking the progression of a disease. This research involves a specific group of participants, or cohorts, who are prone or predisposed to the outcome of interest. What is a prospective study?Ī prospective study is a scientific investigation that researchers perform in order to learn more about a particular medical topic. Researchers typically use preexisting data to make new analyses and conclusions about the outcome of interest. They use this data to identify and create a cohort of people that were prone to the condition in question and study the subjects exposure status and medical outcome. Similar to a prospective study, researchers conducting this study are also interested in learning about participants development of a particular medical condition. Retrospective vs Prospective – Observational Study – AP StatĪ retrospective study is a research project that involves reviewing the results of exposure to and developments of medical incidents that have already occurred. In retrospective studies, individuals are sampled and information is collected about their past. Birth cohort studies are a good example of prospective studies. In prospective studies, individuals are followed over time and data about them is collected as their characteristics or circumstances change. If a drug had been started in some individuals but not in the others, before the study started, this counts as exposure, and not as intervention – since the drug was not started specifically for the study. Typically, the term “exposure” is used when the “causative” variable is naturally determined (as in observational studies – examples include age, sex, smoking, and educational status), and the term “intervention” is preferred where the researcher assigns some or all participants to receive a particular treatment for the purpose of the study (experimental studies – e.g., administration of a drug). The outcome (or predicted or dependent) variable develops as a consequence of the exposure (or intervention). It is also referred to as the independent or the predictor variable. Exposure (or intervention) refers to the risk factor whose effect is being studied. Here, the question is whether one variable is associated with or responsible for change in the value of the other variable. Since the design of a study can affect the validity of its results, it is important to understand the different types of study designs and their strengths and limitations.Ī large proportion of research studies assess the relationship between two variables. The type of study design used to answer a particular research question is determined by the nature of question, the goal of research, and the availability of resources. Research study designs are of many types, each with its advantages and limitations. The subsequent articles will focus on individual designs.
#Difference between retrospective and prospective series#
In this article, which is the first part of a series on “study designs,” we provide an overview of research study designs and their classification. The study design used to answer a particular research question depends on the nature of the question and the availability of resources. There are several types of research study designs, each with its inherent strengths and flaws.