Final answer:
A retrospective study is an observational research method that looks back at past behaviors to find correlations with current outcomes, commonly used in case-control studies but limited by participants' accurate recall of past events.
Step-by-step explanation:
A retrospective study is an observational research method that examines past events to find correlations or outcomes. Specifically, in a case-control study, which is a type of retrospective study, researchers compare a group with a specific trait (cases) to a group without the trait (controls). Participants are asked about their past behaviors, and this data is analyzed to seek correlations between those behaviors and current health outcomes. The primary limitation of this method is that it relies on participants' recall of past events, which can be prone to inaccuracies due to forgetting or intentional dishonesty.
In contrast to retrospective studies, a cohort study is prospective, following a group of similar subjects over time to observe outcomes as they occur, generally providing more accurate data due to direct collection methods.
The concept of retrospective analysis can also be found in other fields, such as political science, where retrospective voting involves evaluating politicians based on past performance to make future voting decisions. Moreover, using secondary data like historical records for archival research is also considered a part of retrospective analysis, offering the advantage of nonreactivity since it doesn't influence subject behavior.