Which of the following phenomena would be best researched using a longitudinal study?
A) the change in children's concepts of sharing from infancy through adolescence
B) the difference between children and adults in their responses to a natural disaster
C) the frequency with which people think about sources of stress in their lives over the course of a single day
D) the rates of hospitalization of psychiatric patients over the course of the last century

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Longitudinal studies involve data collection from the same group of individuals over an extended period of time. This is ideal for measuring changes over time, such as the change in children's concepts of sharing from infancy through adolescence. Option B and C involve comparing groups (children and adults, individuals over the course of a single day), which would be best researched using cross-sectional studies. Option D involves looking at trends over time, which can also be studied using archival research rather than a longitudinal study.

Which of the Following Phenomena Would Be Best Researched Using