It has been reported that average scores on national exams, such as the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT), have declined in recent years. Researchers interested in exploring this intensively interview students who have just taken the exam, those who will take it next year, and those who took it five years ago. This method is ________.
A) longitudinal
B) experimental
C) biographical
D) cross-sectional

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

This method is cross-sectional because it examines different groups (students who have just taken the exam, those who will take it next year, and those who took it five years ago) at one point in time, rather than following the same group over a period of time.

It Has Been Reported That Average Scores on National Exams