Question

Compare and contrast the cross-sectional and longitudinal approaches to research, listing the advantages and disadvantages of both.

The cross-sectional approach is a research strategy that simultaneously compares individuals of different ages. Data are usually collected over a short period of time. The longitudinal approach is a research strategy in which the same individuals are studied over a period of time, usually several years or more. In a cross-sectional study, the researcher does not have to wait for the individuals to grow up or become older. However, it gives no information about how individuals change or about the stability of their characteristics and can obscure the increases and decreases of development. Longitudinal studies address these concerns, but are expensive and time consuming and carry the risk of participants dropping out mid-way.


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