Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry (생물정신의학)

The Korean Society of Biological Psychiatry (대한생물정신의학회)
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Pros and Cons of Various Research Designs in Clinical Psychiatry

정신과 연구에서 다양한 임상연구방법의 장단점

  • Ha, Ra Yeon (Department of Psychiatry, Yonsei University College of Medicine) ;
  • Cho, Hyun-Sang (Department of Psychiatry, Yonsei University College of Medicine)
  • 하라연 (연세대학교 의과대학 정신과학교실) ;
  • 조현상 (연세대학교 의과대학 정신과학교실)
  • Received : 2012.07.09
  • Accepted : 2012.08.21
  • Published : 2012.11.30
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Abstract

An appropriate research design for hypotheses and purposes leads to a good quality of research results. In this review article, we summarized the types of research methods and described the characteristics of clinical trials. Research designs are categorized into observational studies and experimental ones, depending on data collecting methods. In an observational study, there are cross-sectional, cohort and case-control studies. Parallel groups design and crossover trial studies are representative designs in a randomized controlled trial study, a kind of experimental study. Clinical researchers should understand the characteristics of clinical research designs including advantages and disadvantages and choose the suitable design according to their study purposes and the nature of collected data or subjects.

Keywords

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