Explain the distinction between a cross-sectional study and a longitudinal study.
What will be an ideal response?
In cross-sectional studies, a number of people of different ages are assessed at one point in time. One problem in cross-sectional studies is cohort effects. Cohort effects are differences between individuals that stem not necessarily from their ages but from the historical and social time period in which they were born and developed. For instance, individuals who were born in the 1940s might be less likely to have attended college than those born in the 1990s. Differences observed between these groups might be due not to their age but rather to these differing experiences. In contrast to a cross-sectional study, a longitudinal study assesses the same participants multiple times over a lengthy period. A longitudinal study can find out not only whether age groups differ but also whether the same individuals change with respect to a particular characteristic as they age. Strong statements about developmental changes in psychological characteristics require longitudinal designs.
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According to DSM-5, one criterion for a diagnosis of schizoaffective disorder is __________.
A. a single hallucinatory episode that lasts up to 24 hours B. a single episode of delusions concurrent with anxiety C. a major depressive or manic episode that is concurrent with Criterion A of schizophrenia D. one blood relative who has been diagnosed with schizophrenia and another who has a mood disorder
In order for a person to testify as an expert witness
A. he or she must have had formal training. B. both sides in the trial must agree to allow the testimony. C. the judge must agree to admit the testimony. D. the expert witness must have examined or tested the defendant.
According to one study, the lifetime prevalence of PTSD in the adult population in the United States is estimated to be _____
A. 9.7% B. 6.8% C. 3.6% D. none of the above
Researchers have found that long-term retention of information is particularly affected by ________
a. thyroxin and glucagon b. epinephrine and cortisol c. melatonin norepinephrine d. glucagon and oxytocin