CHES (Certified Health Education Specialist) Practice Exam 2025 - Free Health Education Specialist Practice Questions and Study Guide

A case-control study is designed to identify and compare two distinct groups: those who have the outcome of interest (cases) and those who do not (controls). The primary focus of these studies is to look back in time to determine if there are significant differences in exposure or risk factors between these two groups. This comparative analysis allows researchers to establish associations between potential risk factors and the likelihood of developing the outcome, thus providing valuable insights into causative relationships.

In contrast to random assignment, which is a characteristic of experimental studies, case-control studies do not involve randomization. Instead, they are observational, focusing on existing conditions. These studies are also not designed for tracking subjects over time; that would be more typical of cohort studies. Furthermore, they involve more than just descriptive data collection, as they utilize analytic methods to determine the strength of associations between exposures and outcomes. Therefore, analyzing the differences in exposure between the two groups is fundamental to the methodology of case-control studies.