Cross-sectional and longitudinal studies

Question 1

What is cross sectional study?

Answer 1

A snap shot in time, comparing different groups of people at that time.
Is the most common study to use as its quick and can be tested once
e.g. working class vs middle class

Question 2

Why can cross sectional study’s be good to use?

Answer 2

perfect when testing memory as you can come to a conclusion

Question 3

When shouldn’t we use cross sectional studies?

Answer 3

developmental trends (how memory changes overtime)

Question 4

What is a longitudinal study?

Answer 4

The study follows one group of people over a period of time. Same p’s assessed at multiple points this can be as little as a month, years or even a decade

Question 5

Example of when to use a longitudinal study?

Answer 5

A memory test to see how memory changes over time
p’s are tested at the start of the study then regular intervals after that

Question 6

Why may it be difficult to identify a longitudinal study?

Answer 6

As the period of time can be debatable

Question 7

Strengths of a cross sectional study?

Answer 7

-cheep, quick and practical
-p’s more easily obtained as they aren’t as committed
-more ethical then longitudinal

Question 8

Limitations of cross sectional study’s?

Answer 8

-less rich data
-only a snapshot of time so harder to analyse

Question 9

Strengths of a longitudinal study?

Answer 9

-participant variables don’t affect collected data as same p’s are followed through
-study is best way at spotting development trends
-in depth data

Question 10

Limitations of a longitudinal study?

Answer 10

-certain p’s may move away and not wish to participate any other way distributing study
-withdrawal of p’s mean the rest of the p’s have similar characteristics so may be bias
-more expensive, time consuming