Question

Determine what type of observational study is described. Explain. Researchers wanted to determine whether there was an association between high blood pressure and the suppression of emotions. The researchers looked at 1800 adults enrolled in a health initiative observational study. Each person was interviewed and asked about their response to emotions. In particular they were asked whether their current tendency was to express or to hold in anger and other emotions. The degree of suppression of emotions was rated on a scale of 1 to 10. Each person's blood pressure was also measured. The researchers analyzed the results to determine whether there was an association between high blood pressure and the suppression of emotions. A. The observational study is a retrospective study because individuals are asked to look back in time. B. The observational study is a cross-sectional study because information is collected at a specific point in time. C. The observational study is a cohort study because individuals are observed over a long period of time.

Answer 1

B. The observational study is a cross-sectional study because information is collected at a specific point in time.

Explanation:

1) There are three types of Observational Studies: Case-control, cross-sectional and Cohort.

2) Since the researchers collected information from those 1800 adults at a certain time, then we can call it a cross-sectional study. It does not provide solid results since the research was not done over a period to collect further information. We don't know, for example, much more than what that association deeply mean.

3) If we wonder more, then the researchers would have to track those adults over a given period, i.e. a Cohort would be necessary.

4) Moreover, it's not "retrospective" for virtually every question, always makes us look back somehow, and it does not categorize a kind of observational study.