A researcher does a cross-sectional study and she compares the recycling behavior in younger and older individuals. She finds that older people are more likely to recycle than younger people. She concludes that with age, people become more likely to recycle. A problem with her conclusion is that:
A) There was an attrition error
B) According to her results, age is unrelated to recycling behavior
C) Her older participants were from a different cohort or different generation than her younger participants and this might be the reason a difference was observed rather than the process of aging
D) There is no problem with her conclusion

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The study is cross-sectional, meaning it captures data at one point in time. The observed difference might be due to generational or cohort effects rather than aging itself.

A Researcher Does a Cross-Sectional Study and She Compares the Recycling