Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Verified for the 2026 exam
Verified for the 2026 exam•Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Definition
A cross-sectional study is a type of observational research that analyzes data from a population at one specific point in time—it’s like taking a snapshot of the population.
A research design where data gathering is repeated over an extended period on the same sample group.
Cohort Study: An observational study where subsets of a defined population are identified and followed over time.
Case-Control Study: A retrospective observational study where two existing groups differing in outcome are identified and compared on the basis of some supposed causal attribute.