Methodology: Cross-Sectional Studies

Question 1

Define ‘cross-sectional studies’.

Answer 1

A method that is used to take a ‘quick snapshot’ of behaviour in a population.

Question 2

What are cross-sectional studies mostly used for?

Answer 2

To measure current behaviour of a population.

Question 3

Give 2 examples of how cross-sectional studies can be used in clinical psychology.

Answer 3

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

Question 4

Name researchers of a single study that used a cross-sectional study in clinical research.

Answer 4

Hawker and Boulton (2000)

Question 5

What did Hawker and Boulton (2000) find in terms of psychological maladjustment?

Answer 5

Found no indication of peer victimisation being related to social over psychological forms of maladjustment.

Question 6

Give 4 strengths of cross-sectional studies.

Answer 6

1) High validity due to data being gathered quickly and so findings will be reported at the time making research more relevant
2) Higher ethics due to being less intrusive on the participants’ lives and so their privacy is not compromised
3) Easier to find and withhold participants due to the research being done at the time, compared to longitudinal studies with high drop out rates
4) High generalisability due to large sample gathered

Question 7

Give 3 weaknesses of cross-sectional studies.

Answer 7

1) Low validity due to different people being used and so participant variables will affect overall results
2) Low validity due to the cohort effect as research could be affected by the particular time or place due to being unique situations
3) Low generalisability due to being carried out in a particular time or place and so causing sample to consist of particular type of people, decreasing representativeness