A scientist notices that people who smoke often develop cancer later in life. To test this, they design a longitudinal study in which they take note of how many cigarettes each participant smokes each day, how long they smoke for, and if they develop any kind of cancer at any point. What type of study is this?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

This is a correlational study because it aims to examine the relationship between smoking and cancer by observing and measuring these variables over time. It is not an experimental study because the researcher is not manipulating any variables, but rather just observing them as they occur naturally. It is also not a case study or survey study because it involves observing and measuring a group of participants over time, rather than focusing on one individual in depth or gathering data through questionnaires.

A Scientist Notices That People Who Smoke Often Develop Cancer