Conducting an association study involves several key steps:
Defining the Research Question: Clearly specify the exposure(s) and outcome(s) of interest. Study Design: Choose an appropriate study design (e.g., cohort, case-control, cross-sectional) based on the research question and available resources. Data Collection: Gather data on exposures, outcomes, and potential confounding variables through surveys, medical records, biological samples, etc. Statistical Analysis: Use statistical methods to analyze the data and determine the strength and significance of the association between exposures and outcomes. Interpretation: Interpret the findings in the context of the study design, sample size, and potential biases.
