What are the Limitations of Cross-Sectional Studies?
Despite their usefulness, cross-sectional studies have limitations: 1. Causality: They cannot determine causality, only association. 2. Temporal Relationships: They do not provide information on the temporal sequence of events (e.g., whether a risk factor preceded cancer onset). 3. Selection Bias: There is a risk of selection bias, as the sample may not be representative of the general population. 4. Snapshot Limitation: Being a "snapshot" in time, they do not capture changes over time.
