Advantages & Disadvantages of Different Study Designs
Every study design has its advantages and limitations; Before we dive into this matter, it is critical to define the type of study you are planning to undertake. For instance, the study can be:
· Experimental
· Non-experimental (i.e., observational).
· Quasi-experimental
If you encounter any of type of these studies, ensure that you can spot the following components as they are similar in each case:
· A defined population (P) from which groups of subjects are studied
· Outcomes (O) that are measured
And for experimental and analytic observational studies:
· Interventions (I) or
· Exposures (E) that are applied to different groups of subjects
· Comparison (C)
I found the “Introduction to Study Design” by Jeremy Howick algorithm helpful in differentiating between these two main designs:
Another way to assess the study design is to follow the Center for Evidence-based Medicine decision tree (displayed below).
