Classifying Study Designs

Content: Dr. Petitti gave us a "compendium" of study designs in the field of epidemiology and medicine.   It was interesting to learn about the different types and recognize the difference between them.  At first glance I would have put them into one of two groups, observational or experimental, and I would have left it at that.  In my past those are the only two groups that I have been taught.  It was interesting to see the breakdown of these two groups into more distinct and specific groups.  Again I liked the way I was able to see connections with past lectures, specifically Dr. Greenes lecture on August 31st on research methods.  He  concentrated more on what is and what is not research, but he also classified research designs and introduced us to case control studies, and randomized controlled trials. 

Posted by Laura Wojtulewicz