Professor Sandis is interested in the development of cognitive abilities. So he designs a research study using a cross-sectional design. When interpreting the study, he needs to remember that the results may be biased because
A)the single cohort may have shrunk over time because people dropped out of the study
B)this design is only appropriate for stage theories
C)this design does not consider maturation
D)the different cohorts could have grown up in different historical periods
E)changes over time are not consistent

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Cross-sectional designs compare different groups (or cohorts) at one point in time, which can introduce cohort effects where differences observed may be due to the different historical and social conditions each cohort experienced, rather than developmental changes.

Professor Sandis Is Interested in the Development of Cognitive Abilities