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The basic epidemiological study designs are cross-sectional, case-control, and cohort studies. Cross-sectional studies provide a snapshot of a population by determining both exposures and outcomes at one time point. Cohort studies identify the study groups based on the exposure and, then, the researchers follow up study participants to measure outcomes. Case-control studies identify the study groups based on the outcome, and the researchers retrospectively collect the exposure of interest. The present chapter discusses the basic concepts, the advantages, and disadvantages of epidemiological study designs and their systematic biases, including selection bias, information bias, and confounding.

Original publication

DOI

10.1007/978-1-4939-7868-7_1

Type

Journal article

Journal

Methods Mol Biol

Publication Date

2018

Volume

1793

Pages

1 - 6

Keywords

Bias, Case-control study, Cohort study, Confounding, Information bias, Observational studies, Selection bias, Study design, Case-Control Studies, Cohort Studies, Cross-Sectional Studies, Epidemiologic Research Design, Follow-Up Studies, Humans