Cross-Sectional Study

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.

Analogy

Imagine you're taking a group photo at your family reunion. The picture captures everyone present at that moment - young kids, teenagers, adults, and seniors. That's what cross-sectional studies do; they capture data from various age groups at one specific point in time.

Related terms

Longitudinal Study: 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.