prospective study

prospective study,

an analytic study designed to determine the relationship between a condition and a characteristic shared by some members of a group. The population selected is healthy at the beginning of the study. Some of the members of the group share a particular characteristic, such as cigarette smoking. The researcher follows the population group over a period of time, noting the rate at which a condition, such as lung cancer, occurs in the smokers and in the nonsmokers. A prospective study may involve many variables or only two; it may seek to demonstrate a relationship that is an association or one that is causal. Prospective studies produce a direct measure of risk called the relative risk. Compare retrospective study.

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prospective study,

n a study designed to determine the relationship between a condition and a characteristic shared by some members of a group. The population selected is healthy at the beginning of the study. Some of the members share a particular characteristic, such as cigarette smoking, whereas others do not. The study follows the population groups over a long period, noting the rate at which a condition, such as lung cancer, occurs in the smokers and in the nonsmokers.

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study

a scholarly examination. Specific types of study are also detailed under blind, case-control, cohort, cross-sectional.

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analytical study

one in which a phenomenon is described and an attempt made to analyze the effects of variables on the phenomenon.

descriptive study

one in which a phenomenon is described but no attempt is made to analyze the effects of variables on the phenomenon.

follow-up study

one carried out to find out whether there has been change in the situation since the initial study.

longitudinal study

one carried out over a period of time so that chronological time has an opportunity to exert an effect as a variable.

observational study

see descriptive study (above).

prospective study

one in which the data to be studied are yet to be generated, the events having not yet occurred.

retrospective study

one based on examination of existing data, on events that have already occurred.

simulation study

one in which the real circumstances are simulated, either in fact, or by means of a set of mathematical formulae each of which expresses the probability of each outcome in a series of consequential events that mirror the possible pathways in a real-life situation.

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prospective study

Epidemiology A long-term predictive study designed to observe outcomes or events that occur after identifying a group of subjects to be studied; PSs collect data as the events being evaluated occur; PSs allow testing of hypothesized cause-and-effect relationships, and determine the effect of a therapy on disease progression. See Cohort analytic study. Cf Retrospective study.