What exposure are we interested in?

• A. The Factor Hypothesized To Influence The Outcome
• B. The Outcome Being Measured
• C. The Population's Demographic Characteristics
• D. The Study's Funding Source

Answer: (A)

Exposure is the factor thought to influence the outcome. In a cohort study, you start by categorizing people by whether they have that exposure and then follow them over time to see who develops the outcome. The goal is to assess whether this exposure changes the risk of the outcome, so the exposure itself is the variable being investigated. The outcome is the disease or event measured after exposure. Demographic characteristics describe who is in the study, and the funding source is about potential bias, not the exposure under study.