What describes a retrospective study?

A retrospective study is characterized as an observational study that analyzes previously collected data. This type of study typically looks back in time to assess outcomes or associations based on historical data. Researchers might use medical records, patient surveys, or other data sources that were collected for a different purpose to identify patterns or correlations.

The strength of retrospective studies lies in their ability to draw conclusions based on real-world data without the need for new data collection, which can be time-consuming and resource-intensive. They can provide valuable insights into outcomes, risk factors, and trends over time, making them a popular design in clinical research when timely information is needed.

This approach allows researchers to leverage existing data sets to generate hypotheses or inform future studies, contributing significant knowledge to the field.