Which of the following is a main disadvantage of the cross-sectional design?
A) Individuals of different ages are being compared to one another.
B) It is relatively expensive.
C) It takes a longer amount of time than a longitudinal study.
D) Participants may drop out due to moving, loss of interest, or death.

Question

Which of the following is a main disadvantage of the cross-sectional design?
A) Individuals of different ages are being compared to one another. 
B) It is relatively expensive.
C) It takes a longer amount of time than a longitudinal study.
D) Participants may drop out due to moving, loss of interest, or death.

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The main disadvantage of the cross-sectional design is that individuals of different ages are being compared to one another, which may confound results due to age-related differences rather than differences in the variable of interest. This can lead to inaccurate conclusions and limited ability to make causal inferences.

Which of the Following Is a Main Disadvantage of the Cross-Sectional