Scientists who are investigating what has happened over the years to the people who were exposed to radiation during the 1986 Chernobyl nuclear disaster are conducting what type of study

An investigation of what happened over the years to the people who were exposed to radiation during the 1986 Chernobyl nuclear disaster would be termed an observational study because it will require observing subjects and finding out if there is a kind of correlating factor in the subjects that could indicate the level of exposure to the nuclear radiation.

There are basically two types of research studies:

1. Observational studies

2. Experimental studies

Observational studies involve just the observation of subjects and trying to find out some correlation factors. This kind of study could be prospective when it deals with what could happen in the future based on certain factors or retrospective when it considers what has already happened. An observational study can be cross-sectional, case-only, case-control, or cohort study.

Experimental studies are also referred to as randomized or controlled trial studies. Here, subjects are grouped and each group receives a different treatment in order to isolate the effect of a particular factor or variable relating to the treatment.