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Why is recall bias and interviewer bias not a problem in cohort studies

User Keely
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Final answer:

Recall bias and interviewer bias are minimized in cohort studies because they collect data prospectively, thus not relying on participants' memory, and they use standardized data collection methods to reduce interviewer influence. Cohort studies observe subjects over time to track the progression of disease states or conditions, providing more accurate data.

Step-by-step explanation:

Recall bias and interviewer bias are much less of a problem in cohort studies compared to case-control studies. In a cohort study, the subjects are observed over a long period, and the data are collected prospectively. This means that the information is gathered as events occur, which can lead to more accurate and reliable data collection since it does not rely on participants' memory of past events, which can be flawed or inaccurate. The prospective nature of cohort studies helps in establishing the temporal sequence between exposure and outcome, reducing the risk of recall bias.

As for interviewer bias, a well-designed cohort study often utilizes standardized methods of data collection, which limits the influence that an interviewer's behavior or question phrasing can have on a participant's response. Since cohort studies do not typically rely on the interviewer to ascertain exposure status after an outcome has occurred, but rather at the time the exposure is happening, there is less scope for such bias to affect the study's findings. This design feature makes the data less susceptible to the biases that can occur when the exposure and outcome are measured retrospectally, as is often the case in case-control studies.

User WSC
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