Longitudinal Research

Question 1

What is longitudinal research?

Answer 1

Study conducted over a long period of time, usually years, using the same participants.

Participants researched at regular intervals in time to see how the passage of time affects whatever is being researched.

Question 2

Advantages of longitudinal research

Answer 2

-Participant variables don’t affect study as the same participants are used over the course of the whole study, so no individual differences

-Able to identify developmental trends as repeat tests at regular intervals and compare data

Question 3

Disadvantages of longitudinal research

Answer 3

-May see high attrition rates as Ps may leave due to many reasons, which disrupts the study
This means Ps left over may share characteristics which makes the sample biased e.g. motivated to do the research

-Researcher may change over time which can affect the data collection and analysis, which gives the study lower reliability

-Ethical issues e.g. privacy