Abstract
This unit provides an overview of the design and analysis of population‐based case‐control studies of genetic risk factors for complex disease. Considerations specific to genetic studies are emphasized. The unit reviews basic study designs, differentiating case‐control studies from others, discusses selection of genetic markers for use in studies, introduces basic methods of analysis of case‐control data, and discusses measures of association and impact. Controlling for confounding (including population stratification), consideration of multiple loci, and haplotype analysis are briefly discussed. Readers are referred to basic texts on epidemiology for more details on general conduct of case‐control studies.