12.1 - Longitudinal Studies, Introduction

Question 1

Panel Study

Answer 1

Involves a group of participants (the panel) who are studied at several points in time using similar measures

Question 2

Longitudinal Study

Answer 2

Samples are studied at different times - there’s no implication that it’s the same group each time

Question 3

Retrospective Study

Answer 3

Involves asking participants to answer questions, etc. from a past perspective

Question 4

History

Answer 4

Changes may occur between a pre-test and post-test which are nothing to with the effect of the researcher’s variable of interest.
Participants are usually protected from this in a lab

Question 5

Instrumentation

Answer 5

Change over time may be due to difference in the measuring instrument used

Question 6

Maturation

Answer 6

During the course of a longitudinal study a variety of maturation changes may occur. Participants become more experienced, more knowledgeable, less energetic etc

Question 7

Mortality

Answer 7

People may drop out of a study, due to experimental conditions etc. Won’t be at random and may result in apparent changes when none has truly occurred

Question 8

Testing

Answer 8

People who are tested on a measure may be perform differently when they’re retested later simply because of increased familiarity or practice