To disentangle cause and effect in the study of real-life personality development, it is necessary to engage in __________ research.
A) correlational
B) experimental
C) case study
D) longitudinal

Question

To disentangle cause and effect in the study of real-life personality development, it is necessary to engage in __________ research.
A) correlational
B) experimental
C) case study 
D) longitudinal

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Longitudinal research involves following individuals over time and collecting data at multiple points to examine the patterns of personality changes, thereby allowing researchers to disentangle cause and effect in personality development. Correlational research can show relationships between variables, but it cannot establish causality. Experimental research involves manipulating variables, but it is not always feasible or ethical to manipulate personality traits. Case studies are useful for exploring rare or unique cases but do not allow for generalizability to larger populations.

To Disentangle Cause and Effect in the Study of Real-Life