EBP

1. Observational Study:
Definition: A study in which researchers observe individuals or groups and collect data without
intervening or manipulating any variables.
Examples:
- A researcher observes a group of children to determine if there is a correlation between their screen
time and academic performance.
- A study tracks the eating habits and physical activity levels of a group of adults to examine the
relationship between diet and obesity.

2. Experimental Study:
Definition: A study in which researchers manipulate variables and control conditions to investigate
cause-and-effect relationships.
Examples:
- Researchers administer a new drug to one group of participants while giving a placebo to another
group to determine the drug's effectiveness in treating a specific condition.
- A study randomly assigns participants to either a control group or an intervention group to
investigate the impact of a specific teaching method on students' learning outcomes.

3. Quasi-Experimental Study:
Definition: A study that resembles an experimental design but lacks full control over randomization
or has other limitations.
Examples:
- A researcher examines the academic performance of students in a specific school district before and
after the implementation of a new educational policy.
- A study investigates the impact of a smoking cessation program by comparing participants who self-
select into the program with a similar group of non-participants.

(Note: The following definitions and examples are in continuation of the previous ones.)

4. Cross-Sectional Study:
Definition: A study that collects data from a population or a representative sample at a specific point
in time to examine relationships between variables.
Examples:
- Researchers survey a group of adults to assess their levels of physical activity, dietary habits, and
prevalence of chronic diseases.
- A study examines the relationship between income level and mental health by collecting data from
individuals of various income brackets.

5. Retrospective Study:
Definition: A study that analyzes data collected from past events or records to investigate associations
or outcomes.
Examples:
- Researchers analyze medical records of patients with a specific condition to determine potential risk
factors or treatment outcomes.
- A study examines historical data on workplace accidents to identify potential causes and develop
strategies for prevention.
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6. Case-Control Study:
Definition: A study that compares individuals with a specific outcome or condition (cases) to
individuals without that outcome or condition (controls) to identify potential risk factors or causes.
Examples:
- Researchers compare a group of individuals diagnosed with lung cancer (cases) to a group of
individuals without lung cancer (controls) to investigate the association between smoking and the
development of lung cancer.
- A study compares a group of patients with a rare genetic disorder (cases) to a group of individuals
without the disorder (controls) to identify genetic markers associated with the condition.

7. Prospective Cohort Study:

Definition: A study that follows a group of individuals over a specific period, collecting data on
exposure to risk factors and subsequent development of outcomes.
Examples:
- Researchers enroll a cohort of pregnant women and collect data on their dietary habits throughout
pregnancy, then follow up to determine the association between maternal diet and birth outcomes.
- A study follows a group of individuals exposed to a specific environmental toxin and monitors their
health over several years to investigate the long-term effects of the exposure.

8. Retrospective Cohort Study:

Definition: A study that looks back at past records or data to establish a cohort based on exposure to
certain factors and then assesses outcomes.
Examples:
- Researchers analyze medical records of individuals who received a specific vaccination to assess its
long-term effectiveness in preventing the targeted disease.
- A study examines employment records of workers exposed to a particular occupational hazard to
determine the incidence of related health conditions over time.

9. Epidemiological Study:
Definition: A study that investigates patterns, causes, and effects of diseases or health conditions in
populations.
Examples:
- Researchers conduct a study to determine the prevalence of diabetes in a specific region and explore
potential risk factors contributing to its occurrence.
- An epidemiological study investigates the association between air pollution levels and respiratory
diseases in a city's population.

10. Prevalence Study:

Definition: A study that measures the proportion of individuals in a population who have a specific
characteristic or condition at a particular point in time.
Examples:
- Researchers conduct a survey to estimate the prevalence of depression among college students in a
given academic year.
- A study determines the prevalence of obesity in a community by measuring the body mass index of
a representative sample of residents.
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11. Longitudinal Study:

Definition: A study that follows a group of individuals over an extended period, collecting data at
multiple time points to observe changes or trends.
Examples:
- Researchers track the cognitive development of a group of children from infancy through
adolescence to understand the trajectory of cognitive abilities over time.
- A study examines the long-term effects of a specific medication by collecting data on patients'
health outcomes at regular intervals over several years.

12. Panel Study:

Definition: A longitudinal study that involves repeatedly observing the same group of individuals
over time, collecting data on multiple variables of interest.
Examples:
- Researchers conduct a panel study to track the educational attainment, employment status, and
income levels of a group of individuals from the age of 25 to 50.
- A study follows a panel of households to assess changes in their energy consumption patterns and
attitudes towards sustainability over a decade.

13. Follow-up Study:

Definition: A study that examines individuals or groups who have been previously exposed to a
specific treatment, intervention, or event to evaluate outcomes or assess long-term effects.
Examples:
- Researchers conduct a follow-up study on patients who underwent a surgical procedure to evaluate
their recovery, assess potential complications, and monitor the long-term success of the surgery.
- A study follows a group of individuals who participated in a weight loss program to examine
weight maintenance and changes in health outcomes over a five-year period.

14. Time Series Study:

Definition: A study that analyzes data collected at multiple time points to identify patterns, trends, or
relationships over time.
Examples:
- Researchers analyze monthly temperature data over several decades to investigate long-term
climate change patterns.
- A study examines annual crime rates in a city over the past 20 years to identify seasonal trends and
explore potential factors influencing crime fluctuations.

15. Randomized Control Trial (RCT):

Definition: A study design where participants are randomly assigned to different groups (e.g.,
treatment and control) to evaluate the effects of an intervention or treatment.
Examples:
- Researchers conduct an RCT to compare the effectiveness of two different antidepressant
medications by randomly assigning participants to receive one of the medications or a placebo.
- A study evaluates the impact of a new teaching method by randomly assigning classrooms to either
use the new method or continue with the standard approach.
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16. Crossover Trial:

Definition: A type of clinical trial where participants receive different interventions in a specific
sequence, often with a washout period in between, to assess the comparative effects.
Examples:
- Researchers conduct a crossover trial to compare the effectiveness of two pain relief medications
by randomly assigning participants to receive one medication for a period and then switching to the
other.
- A study assesses the effects of two different diets on blood glucose levels in individuals with
diabetes by assigning participants to follow each diet for a specific duration.

17. Factorial Trial:

Definition: A clinical trial that investigates the effects of multiple interventions or treatments by
combining them in different combinations or levels.
Examples:
- Researchers conduct a factorial trial to evaluate the impact of two different medications and two
lifestyle interventions on blood pressure control in patients with hypertension.
- A study investigates the efficacy of a combination therapy comprising two different cancer drugs,
each at two different dosages, in treating a specific type of cancer.

18. Cluster Trial:

Definition: A trial that randomly assigns groups (clusters) of individuals, such as communities or
schools, to different interventions or treatments.
Examples:
- Researchers conduct a cluster trial to evaluate the effectiveness of a school-based intervention
program for promoting healthy eating habits by randomly assigning schools to receive the intervention
or act as a control.
- A study

assesses the impact of a community-level intervention on smoking cessation rates by randomly

assigning neighborhoods to receive the intervention or standard care.

19. Nested Trial:

Definition: A trial design where an additional study is embedded within a larger study, often
involving a subgroup of participants, to investigate specific research questions.
Examples:
- Within a large population-based cohort study, a nested trial investigates the effects of a new
diagnostic test by randomly assigning a subgroup of participants to undergo the test or the standard
diagnostic procedure.
- A study within a clinical trial evaluates the impact of a specific dietary supplement on a subset of
participants by randomly assigning them to receive the supplement or a placebo.
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20. Meta-analysis:
Definition: A statistical technique that combines the results from multiple independent studies on the
same topic to obtain a summary estimate of the overall effect size.
Examples:
- Researchers conduct a meta-analysis to synthesize the findings from various studies on the efficacy
of a specific treatment for a particular medical condition.
- A meta-analysis combines data from multiple studies examining the relationship between exercise
and mental health outcomes to provide an overall assessment of the effect size.
21. Clinical Trial:
Definition: A research study involving human participants that evaluates the safety, efficacy, and/or
effectiveness of medical interventions or treatments.
Examples:
- A pharmaceutical company conducts a clinical trial to test the effectiveness and safety of a new
drug for treating a specific disease.
- Researchers conduct a clinical trial to evaluate the efficacy of a new therapeutic approach, such as a
novel surgical technique or a behavioral intervention, in improving patient outcomes.

22. Systematic Review:

Definition: A comprehensive and structured review of existing literature that aims to summarize and
evaluate the available evidence on a specific research question or topic.
Examples:
- A systematic review examines published studies on the effects of mindfulness-based interventions
for reducing symptoms of anxiety and depression.
- Researchers conduct a systematic review of randomized controlled trials to assess the effectiveness
of exercise interventions in managing chronic lower back pain.

23. Narrative Review:

Definition: A review of literature that provides a subjective summary or commentary on a specific
research topic or question, often based on the author's expert opinion.
Examples:
- An expert in the field writes a narrative review on the historical development and current
challenges in the field of artificial intelligence.
- A researcher conducts a narrative review discussing various theoretical frameworks used to explain
the relationship between socioeconomic status and health outcomes.