What is the difference between a retrospective observational study vs. a prospective oberservational study? Type your answer. __

A retrospective observational study is a study where the researcher looks back in time and examines exposures to suspected risk or protection factors in relation to an outcome that is already known. This type of study is often used in medical research to identify risk factors for diseases. On the other hand, a prospective observational study is a study where the researcher follows a group of people over time to see how their exposures affect their outcomes. This type of study is often used to identify risk factors for diseases and to understand the natural history of a disease. The main difference between these two types of studies is the timing of data collection. In a retrospective study, data is collected after the outcome has occurred, while in a prospective study, data is collected before the outcome has occurred.