Question

Explain measures of interpretation in cohort studies, and provide at least one relevant example.

Answer 1

In an observational study, we observe the event of interest and measure it. If the event of interest or the characteristics of the subject under study that occurred already, we call those of type of the studies as a retrospective study. Here we do not modify the events of interests with an influencing factors. We just observe and measure the characteristics of interests. Similarly, in a prospective study or a longitudinal study or a cohort observation study, we go to the future of the events that will occur in the future time by going forward to collect the data for the characteristics of the groups of sharing a common factor( usually called cohort) without changing or influencing any events. Cohort study is an observational study done to examine the characteristics of the groups that are having common factor of interest.

For example we study the difference of the performance of the group of students who use pencil and paper to study and understand the concepts of statistics and the group of students who do not use pencil and paper. Going forward to ensure that the study results are followed up to enhance the results if it really matters to have pencil and papers to study the statistics or not in the future.