Peer-reviewed Experimental study Observational study Case study People What do these mean?
Peer-reviewed: This work was reviewed and scrutinised by relevant independent experts.
Experimental study: At least one thing in the experiment was changed to see if it had an impact on the subjects (often people or animals) – eg: changing the amount of time mice spend on an exercise wheel to find out what impact it has on weight loss.
Observational study: A study in which the subject is observed to see if there is a relationship between two or more things (eg: the consumption of diet drinks and obesity). Observational studies cannot prove that one thing causes another, only that they are linked.
Case study: A study involving observations of a single patient or group of patients.
People: This is a study based on research using people.