What is one major function of a case-control study?

A case-control study is primarily designed to identify risk factors related to a specific outcome or disease. In this type of observational study, researchers look back retrospectively to compare individuals who have the outcome of interest (cases) with those who do not (controls). By analyzing these two groups, researchers can identify factors that may be associated with the increased risk of the outcome. This allows for the determination of whether certain exposure or behaviors are more common in cases than in controls, thereby leading to insights about potential risk factors.

While formulating a hypothesis is an essential part of the research process, it is not a major function of a case-control study itself; rather, this process typically precedes the study. Collecting large amounts of data is often a goal in research, but case-control studies are primarily concerned with the quality of data regarding exposure rather than quantity. Ensuring equal representation of all groups is more critical in randomized controlled trials rather than case-control studies, where the focus is on comparing existing differences in exposure between two distinct groups rather than equalizing them.