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First, let us look at the cross-sectional study. Cross-sectional studies investigate the association between the putative factors and the disease outcome. In other words, we do not know what happened in the past and what will happen in the future. On the basis of a cross-sectional study, we do not know whether one agent causes the outcome. Thus, a cross-sectional study is only helpful in describing the relationships between the disease and potential causative agents. If one planning a study for first time, a cross-sectional study should be conducted.