Question

What are the advantages and disadvantages of correlational studies? Prospective studies?

Answer 1

Correlational studies can suggest that relation ship eist between variables..

Advantages:

1.Correlation research allows researchers to collect much more data than experiment.

2. The result tend to be more applicable to every day life since this research takes place out side lab.

3. It opens up a great deal of further research other scholars.

4. No manipulation of behaviour is required.

5. The correlation coefficient can readily quantify observational data.

Disadvantages:

1. Correlational studies cannot provide a conclusive reason for why there is a relation.

2. Its result doesnot reveal which variables influence the other.

3. Cannot assume the cause and effect.

4. Strong correlation between variables may be misleading.

5. Lack of correlation may not mean there is no relation ship.

6. It could be non-linear.

Prospective studies: It watches for out comes. Such as the development of a disease during the study period and relates this to other factors such as suspected risk or protection factors. The study usually involves taking a cohort of subjects and watching them over a long period.

Advantages:

1. Clarity of temporal sequences. The prospective studies clearly indicate the temporal sequences between exposure and out come

2. Allows calculation of incidence - It allows to calculate the incidence of disease in exposure group.

3. Facilitaye study of rare exposure - Design can be used to investigate common exposures, they are particularly useful for evaluating the effect of rare or unusual exposures.

4. Allows examination of multiple effects of a single exposure

5. Avoid selection bias at enrollment.

Disadvantages:

1. Needs to follow large number of subjects for a long time.

2. It can be very expensive and time consuming.

3. They are not good for rare disease.

4. They are not good for disease with a long latency.

5. Differential loss to follow up can introduce bias..