Which of the following processes can cause difficulty in interpreting the results of a longitudinal study?
A) participants' dropping out of the study as time goes by
B) asking a question about a behavior might affect later instances of that behavior
C) events external to the study that are related to the study's topic might affect the behavior of study participants
D) all of the above

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

All three processes (participants dropping out, the question effect, and external events) can cause difficulty in interpreting the results of a longitudinal study. Participants dropping out can lead to biased samples, the question effect can create demand characteristics and affect validity, and external events can influence the behavior being studied.

Which of the Following Processes Can Cause Difficulty in Interpreting