The local health department of a small town has hired a research firm to study the development of cancer in residents in the town due to a suspected cancer-causing agent and environmental pollution. The researcher will compare data on participants at age 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, etc. to see if there are increasing rates of cancer in the town. This type of research study is called a __________
A) cross-sequential design.
B) longitudinal design.
C) behavior genetics design.
D) cross-sectional design.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

A longitudinal design involves collecting data from the same group of individuals at multiple points in time to see how they change or develop over time. In this scenario, the research firm is collecting data on participants at multiple points in time to study the development of cancer in residents. Therefore, a longitudinal design is the best choice. A cross-sequential design involves a combination of longitudinal and cross-sectional designs, a behavior genetics design is used to study the role of genetics in behavior, and a cross-sectional design involves collecting data from different groups of individuals at a single point in time.

The Local Health Department of a Small Town Has Hired