A cohort study follows groups of individuals over time who differ by whether they have been exposed or not exposed to a particular risk factor or intervention. Researchers then compare how often the outcome of interest occurs in each group. Cohort studies begin by identifying groups of individuals and following them prospectively to determine what exposures may be associated with outcomes. They allow for standardization of criteria and outcomes and can be easier than randomized controlled trials. However, confounding variables can be difficult to control for without randomization.