Designs for studying age-related changes

Question 1

Outline Cross sectional design

Answer 1

People of different ages are tested ONCE

Question 2

Evaluate Cross-sectional design

Answer 2

Least time consuming
provides a quick estimate with changes of age
However, it only describes age differences

Question 3

Outline Longitudinal design

Answer 3

People are tested repeatedly as they grow older
Each individual development is measured overtime

Question 3

Evaluate Longitudinal design study

Answer 3

Costly
Time consuming
Difficult to schedule repeated visits of the same children
Drop outs could be high - some may withdraw as they find the task too difficult
Limits generalisability of the results
Children may get better results with age due to more practice
Cohort

Question 3

Name one example of a Longitudinal design

Answer 3

Avon longitudinal study of parents and children (ALSPAC) had recruited over 14,000 pregnant women

Question 4

Define Cohort

Answer 4

A group of people who was raised in the same environment or share certain demographic characteristics.

Question 5

Outline Microgenetic Method

Answer 5

Examines the changes as it occurs and involves longitudinal children being tested repeatedly over a short period of time so density of observations are high compared to longitudinal study
This provides a snapchat of developmental stages

Question 6

Define sequential design

Answer 6

Involves a mix of designs, fairly rare
examines development of individuals from different age cohorts