Give two strengths and weakness of the time series approach. Give an example of when it might be used. Is this a design an undergraduate student might use (and why, or why not)?

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

Ans: A time series approach is used when you have many observations on the same variable that are conducted consecutively over a period of time. This can be used when you are studying learning, birth rates over a number of years, or even online shopping patterns. There is also an interrupted time series when have measurement before and after an event. Researchers could look at employment rates before and after the introduction of online sales, for example, of an interrupted time series design. The interruption may be unanticipated (for example, the floods of 2015) or intentional (placement of billboards about texting and driving near a college campus). Since time series designs involve many observations or data points, this design may be difficult for an undergraduate to do (unless there is archival data readily available). The interrupted time series design could be doable, but undergraduates often need to complete their research in a one or two semester project and cannot assume a natural event will occur. The second design may be impossible to do as well. Still, these designs are important to know about for the future.