ScholarRounds is designed for medical students, residents, fellows, clinicians, and research teams who need a practical way to move projects forward. The goal is not to replace methodological or specialty expertise, but to make the next decisions explicit and easier to execute.
Comparative effectiveness
When comparing treatments or exposures, cohort designs can estimate associations when randomization is not feasible. A credible comparator, consistent eligibility criteria, and confounder adjustment are central.
Diagnostic studies
Diagnostic-accuracy studies require a clearly defined index test and reference standard. Sensitivity and specificity alone are not enough; prevalence, verification bias, thresholds, and clinical consequences matter.
Prognosis
Prognostic research requires a defined starting point, sufficient follow-up, consistent outcome ascertainment, and attention to censoring and competing events.
Descriptive research
Descriptive cohorts, case series, and cross-sectional studies can be valuable when the goal is to define frequency, phenotype, practice patterns, or feasibility. They should not be written as though they prove causation.