The field of epidemiology relies on the collection of data to come to an unbiased conclusion about any particular outbreak or epidemic. There are two types of study designs; observational and experimental and within each design there are different types of approaches to collect data.
Experimental study design is used when a researcher is attempting to alter something to verify their hypothesis. The different approaches to this design are; Randomized Controlled Trials (RCT) and Quasi-Experimental Design (UOttawa, n.d.). The basic principles behind RCT applied when a researcher is testing a new drug and its effects. A hypothesis is formed that the drug will have the same effect on the test group as a placebo will on a controlled group. Experimental and control groups are monitored and the effects would be documented, this can be used to verify if the hypothesis were correct or not. The second approach to the experimental study design is the quasi-experimental approach. This is when something is unplanned occurs during an RCT study and the focus is …show more content…
There are three approaches to observational studies; cross-sectional studies, cohort studies and case-controlled studies (UOttawa, n.d.). Cross-sectional studies are done from a cross-section of the population. The epidemiologist looks at a comparison of the people that are or are not affected by a disease. Cohort studies are surveys done over a long period of time. Environmental factors are evaluated and a hypothesis is drawn from what is known. For example evaluating a population with a low incidence of a disease, and evaluating if the environmental factors played a role in the development of the disease in that population. Case-controlled studies are done in retrospect, meaning a population sample is studied and the cause of disease is hypothesized by common factors that the population
Experimental study design is used when a researcher is attempting to alter something to verify their hypothesis. The different approaches to this design are; Randomized Controlled Trials (RCT) and Quasi-Experimental Design (UOttawa, n.d.). The basic principles behind RCT applied when a researcher is testing a new drug and its effects. A hypothesis is formed that the drug will have the same effect on the test group as a placebo will on a controlled group. Experimental and control groups are monitored and the effects would be documented, this can be used to verify if the hypothesis were correct or not. The second approach to the experimental study design is the quasi-experimental approach. This is when something is unplanned occurs during an RCT study and the focus is …show more content…
There are three approaches to observational studies; cross-sectional studies, cohort studies and case-controlled studies (UOttawa, n.d.). Cross-sectional studies are done from a cross-section of the population. The epidemiologist looks at a comparison of the people that are or are not affected by a disease. Cohort studies are surveys done over a long period of time. Environmental factors are evaluated and a hypothesis is drawn from what is known. For example evaluating a population with a low incidence of a disease, and evaluating if the environmental factors played a role in the development of the disease in that population. Case-controlled studies are done in retrospect, meaning a population sample is studied and the cause of disease is hypothesized by common factors that the population