Prospective studies are one of the standardised research designs commonly used in the field of research. A significant proportion of the PhD students who have their theses printed by us have used this method.
Regarded as one of the most rigorously controlled evaluation systems in the academic context, it is designed in accordance with clear parameters that justify its use. Naturally, these characteristics give the prospective study certain advantages and limitations compared with other research designs.
Those who are planning the structure of their thesis should, as a first step, choose the most appropriate method for collecting and analysing data. If you’re wondering what a prospective study is because you think it might be the ideal approach for you, you can assess this once you’ve learnt all the details about the method.
What is a prospective study and when is it used?
To define a prospective study, one must first understand the concept of prospecting. The Royal Academy of Language defines the term as ‘the exploration of future possibilities based on present indications’.
When applied to the field of research, a prospective study provides a detailed analysis of a current situation which, given its characteristics, may offer clues as to what will happen in the future. In this way, PhD students can use the findings of their study to propose measures that will steer that trend in a more favourable direction.
One example of a prospective study is to demonstrate that certain habits are linked to an increased risk of developing a disease. Based on this data, recommendations can be made regarding certain habits, such as cutting out certain foods or taking up a sport, etc.
What are its features?
The description of the prospective study highlights certain features that distinguish it from other research approaches in the academic field. More specifically, the key considerations when writing doctoral theses from this perspective are as follows:
- Evidence-based future projections: research focuses on identifying events that have not yet occurred, but which are highly likely to happen given the facts analysed.
- Data collection over a period of time: a prospective study is not limited to a specific point in time; instead, data is collected over a period of time that is more or less lengthy and is determined at the start of the research.
- Possibility of intervention: unlike other types of processes, prospecting involves the researcher’s participation, as they can introduce variables with the aim of altering the future scenario under consideration.
- Study groups: when research is conducted on human or animal populations, study groups can be formed to expose one part of the sample to certain changes whilst leaving another part unaffected, thereby allowing the differences to be observed.
- Generating causal relationships: this intervention and analysis of risk groups makes it possible to see how certain changes within the groups lead to different outcomes, thereby establishing relationships between variables.
Advantages and limitations of this type of study
One of the advantages of prospective studies is that they enable the accurate identification of causes and effects of certain factors within a population group over time. In the health and scientific fields, this is key to developing new medicines or treatments that are as effective as possible for the general public. Furthermore, a prospective study is particularly valuable when investigating rare or low-incidence conditions, reducing the possibility of researcher bias to almost zero.
En cuanto a sus limitaciones, es un tipo de planteamiento que se expone, por su largo tiempo de ejecución, a que la muestra se vea reducida por abandono de los participantes. Otro factor a considerar es que suele ser un tipo de investigación costosa en el que hay que enfrentarse a muestras grandes difíciles de controlar sin caer en sesgos o efectos de confusión.
With all this information on the table, you will be able to assess whether a prospective study is the best approach for your doctoral thesis, draft it and present it to the examination board in order to obtain your degree.
