List the strengths and weaknesses of epidemiological studies and experimental studies

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

Epidemiological studies research the incidence, distribution, and control of disease in a population. Epidemiological studies include cross-sectional, case-control, and cohort studies.
Strengths:
• Can narrow down the list of possible causes
• Can raise questions to pursue through other research
Weaknesses:
• Cannot control variables that may influence the development or the prevention of a disease
• Cannot prove cause and effect

Experimental studies test cause-and-effect relationships between variables. Experimental studies include laboratory-based studies—on animals or in test tubes (in vitro)—and human intervention (or clinical) trials.
Strengths:
• Can control conditions (for the most part)
• Can determine effects of a variable
• Can apply some findings on human beings to some groups of human beings
Weaknesses:
• Cannot apply results from test tubes or animals to human beings
• Cannot generalize findings on human beings to all human beings
• Cannot use certain treatments for clinical or ethical reasons