A case-control study is a type of observational study, meaning that the study investigators only observe and do not intervene. This type of study is designed to find out if an exposure to something is associated with an outcome (for example if a condition or disease breaks out after being exposed to something).
Sources:
- Lewallen S. et al. Epidemiology in Practice: Case-Control Studies. Community Eye Health. 1998; 11(28): 57–58. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1706071/
- Singh Setia M. Methodology Series Module 2: Case-control Studies. Indian J Dermatol. 2016 Mar-Apr; 61(2): 146–151. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4817437/