Cross Sectional Research

Question 1

Define cross sectional studies

Answer 1

Method used to take a quick ‘snap shot’ of behaviour

Question 2

What are they mostly used for?

Answer 2

To measure current behaviour of a population

Question 3

Give 2 examples of using cross-sectional research in clinical psychology

Answer 3

1) Investigating whether peer victimisation is positively related to psychological maladjustment
2) Looking at the difference in same mental disorders of different ages

Question 4

What is the focus of cross sectional research?

Answer 4

Looking at different groups of people at the same time

Question 5

What are cohort effects?

Answer 5

Factors relating to the group which could make them special in some way, meaning they are not entirely comparable to another similar group in the future

Question 6

STRENGTHS

Answer 6

Practically more time efficient
Cost effective
No demand characteristics - increasing validity
More ethical than longitudinal studies

Question 7

WEAKNESSES

Answer 7

Cohort bias
Participant variables can be present - lowering validity
Difficult to establish cause and effect - lowering validity
Perspective based research