Suppose a researcher used a cross-sectional research design and found that older adults tend to be more socially conservative than younger adults. He concludes that as we get older we tend to become more conservative in our thinking. Which of the following is a potential problem with this conclusion?
A) the researcher cannot establish causation because this is a qualitative study
B) the problem of attrition has not been addressed
C) an age-cohort effect could explain these findings
D) The problem of accurately measuring age

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The potential problem with the researcher's conclusion is the age-cohort effect, which suggests that the observed differences in social conservatism between older and younger adults might be due to the different experiences and environments each age group has encountered, rather than a change that occurs with aging. This effect highlights the importance of considering generational differences when interpreting cross-sectional data.

Suppose a Researcher Used a Cross-Sectional Research Design and Found