What study design allows study participants to serve as their own controls, allowing early trends in the data to emerge?
A) Cross-sectional
B) Ex post facto
C) Retrospective
D) Longitudinal

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

In a longitudinal study design, participants are followed over a period of time, allowing for early trends to emerge and for each participant to serve as their own control. This design is particularly useful when studying changes over time, as it allows for the assessment of individual changes and the tracking of those changes within each participant. In contrast, cross-sectional, ex post facto, and retrospective designs do not allow for the same level of individual tracking over time, making it more difficult to detect early trends and changes.

What Study Design Allows Study Participants to Serve as Their