Longitudinal studies Flashcards
LONGITUDINAL STUDIES
following the same group of individuals over an extended period of time - collecting data from them at various intervals to se change over time - data collection methods include: psychometric tests, interviews, questionnaires, tasks etc.
+ lowers risk of participant variables affecting the DV - Ps act as their own control group
+ allows developments of the same individual over time to be studied
+ Ps may feel more comfortable disclosing info as they know the researcher very well/understand the procedure
- Ps can drop out (move house/lose interest) creating gaps in data = attrition
- studies can take years so aims of the research may lose relevance due to societal changes
- time consuming for researcher and Ps - may need to offer incentives for Ps
CROSS SECTIONAL STUDY
collecting data from many individuals at a single point in time - opposite to longitudinal study
COHORT EFFECTS
the group of Ps being studied may not be the same as similar groups growing up in other time periods
- limits temporal validity of results
- lowers confidence when generalising results from a sample in one time period
