Longitudinal study
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It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with [[::Longitudinal Study|Longitudinal Study]]. (Discuss)
A longitudinal study observes the same subjects, usually human beings, over a long period of time, usually to detect onset of disease.
A longitudinal study differs in approach from a cross-sectional study, which looks at something at a particular moment or snapshot in time.
A retrospective study is a less desirable type of longitudinal study that looks backwards rather than forwards in time.