Study design methodology in neurosurgical research

Abstract Background Medical research has evolved from individual expert-described opinions and techniques to scientifically designed methodology-based studies. There are different study designs, and selecting an appropriate study design is critical to appropriately answer the research question being investigated. Main body A research question may be addressed using different approaches that can be descriptive, analytical, or experimental. The choice of study design is influenced by features as that related to exposure (intervention) and disease (outcome); considerations related to time, resources, ethics and gaps in scientific knowledge that remain to be filled. The purpose of this review is to provide an overview of the basic study designs as it is the foundation of neurosurgical research to provide valid scientific evidence. Conclusion Quality in scientific research begins with a clear hypothesis and a well-formulated design. This entails a thorough understanding of the different study designs to choose the best suited to answer the investigated research question.