Hi Tasha, Sounds like a retrospective cohort study, though you and your colleagues have to determine what defines your cohort.
The 'control' in a case-control study does not mean controlling for variables. It refers to a 'comparison' sample that is supposed to represent the larger cohort from which it was sampled. HTH, Iyue [EMAIL PROTECTED] (TBurwinkle) wrote in message news:<[EMAIL PROTECTED]>... > Hello fellow posters, > > I have come across a dilemma with little consensus amongst colleagues. > So, I am throwing this issue out there for all of you, in hopes that > you might shed some light on the subject. > > I am doing a study where I am using a previously existing database in > which patients were assessed with a quality of life measure at > different time points (e.g., longitudinally). The study was originally > exploratory.. there were no variables that were controlled for... > just.. giving patients a questionnaire each time they presented to a > clinic. > > In reviewing various definitions of research designs, the one that > seems to "fit" most closely is that of a "case control" design.. but > as I mentioned, there were no variables that were controlled for. So > this definition seems grossly inadequate. Obviously it is a > retrospective design... but is there some kind of "official" term that > might be used for this type of study? > > I would be grateful for any feedback. > Sincerely, > Tasha B. . . ================================================================= Instructions for joining and leaving this list, remarks about the problem of INAPPROPRIATE MESSAGES, and archives are available at: . http://jse.stat.ncsu.edu/ . =================================================================
