Descriptive studies categorize different diseases and analyze them based on which category they fall into. Descriptive studies do not typically have a hypothesis, but rather describe observed patterns of the disease.

Descriptive Studies

Ecological Studies also referred to as correlational studies examine the correlation between specific exposure and disease rates in large groups and populations.

Ecological Studies

Etiological Studies also called Analytical Studies are studies conducted around individuals and specific hypotheses on how a certain disease accumulates.

Etiological Studies

Descriptive Studies
Correlational, or Ecological Studies
Etiological, or Analytical Studies

Boston University

Principles of Epidemiology. (n.d.). United States Center for Disease Control. Retrieved July 19, 2020, from https://www.cdc.gov/csels/dsepd/ss1978/lesson6/section2.html

Principles of Epidemiology

Types of Epidemiological Studies

In epidemiology, prevalence is the proportion of a particular population found to be affected by a medical condition at a specific time.

Prevalence

Fixed population: a population whose membership is permanent.The population of Hiroshima, Japan, during an atomic bomb explosion in WWII
Dynamic or open population: membership of this population is defined by a changeable state or condition (resident of Boston)
Steady-state: the number exerting a population is equal to the number leaving (University students)


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