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An investigator wants to determine if older adults are less open to new experiences compared to young adults using a cross-sectional study. Formulate one specific generational/cohort variable that could act as a cohort effect confound in this study, and explain how it might lead to an incorrect conclusion about the effects of aging.
Question: An investigator wants to determine if older adults are less open to new experiences compared to young adults using a cross-sectional study. Formulate one specific generational/cohort variable that could act as a cohort effect confound in this study, and explain how it might lead to an incorrect conclusion about the effects of aging.
Sample answer: One generational variable is the societal exposure to global cultural diversity during formative years. The younger generation grew up with the internet and globalization, making them more open to new experiences, whereas the older generation grew up in a more localized, homogenous society. If the researcher ignores this, they might incorrectly conclude that openness naturally declines with age, when the difference is actually due to the generation they grew up in.
Key points:
- Propose a concrete cohort/generational variable (e.g., early exposure to cultural diversity or technology).
- Apply the variable to explain how it differs between the younger and older cohorts.
- Explain how this variable could lead to an incorrect conclusion about aging by acting as a confound.
Feedback: The student's answer should identify a specific historical or generational variable (such as technology exposure, societal norms, or historical events) and apply it to explain how it confounds the relationship between age and openness to experience in a cross-sectional design, leading to a false conclusion about the direct effects of aging.
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Research Methods in Psychology - 4th American Edition @ KPU
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An investigator wants to determine if older adults are less open to new experiences compared to young adults using a cross-sectional study. Formulate one specific generational/cohort variable that could act as a cohort effect confound in this study, and explain how it might lead to an incorrect conclusion about the effects of aging.