Collects costs and outcomes data after the study begins. Besides baseline data that are typically collected before program onset, data collection occurs simultaneously with the implementation of the program and must last as long as all relevant costs and benefits accrue. Prospective studies are often based on randomized clinical trials (RCTs). These trials are advantageous to the researchers because they grant them greater control over the type and quality of the data being obtained from the program being evaluated. The researcher can decide exactly which costs and benefits are necessary for the analysis and ensure that they are recorded. The prospective study is considered a standard among study formats used in economic evaluations. Prospective studies can have disadvantages. Because prospective studies collect cost and benefit data simultaneously, they can be resource- and time-intensive. They are also susceptible to observer bias.
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