-  Enable investigators to better speculate about time-order relationships among factors that vary together
-  Help reduce the third-variable problem that so often arises in correctional studies

The Benefits of Longitudinal Studies

 A longitudinal design follows the same subjects over time. 

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Another way of classifying research studies is by considering whether the studies are cross-sectional or longitudinal in nature.

Cross-Sectional vs. Longitudinal Approaches 

Trull , T. J., &amp; Prinstein , M. J. (2013). Research Methods in Clinical Psychology . In Clinical Psychology (Eighth, pp. 93–124). Textbook, Wadsworth Cengage Learning . 

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 Cross-sectional design is one that evaluates or compares individuals, perhaps of different age groups, at the same point in time.

Cross-Sectional Approaches

Longitudinal Studies 

- Studies are costly to carry out
- Require great patience and continuity leadership in the research program
- Researchers must live with design mistakes made years earlier or put up with outmoded research and assessment methods
- Participants sometimes drop out of longitudinal studies
   - One must demonstrate that the retained participants are representative of those that started the study

Variations and Problems with Cross-Sectional and Longitudinal Approaches 

A developmental psychologist wants to study how problem-solving skills change over the lifespan. The psychologist recruits a group of 20-year-olds, a group of 40-year-olds, and a group of 60-year-olds. All participants are given the same problem-solving test during the same month. Which research design does this study exemplify?

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