Which of the following developmental research designs would be the best to use if your goal was to assess age changes?
A) the cross-sectional design because you can answer developmental questions much faster than waiting for changes to happen
B) the cross-sectional design because you can assess the entire lifespan in a very short time
C) the longitudinal because you can watch changes over time within the same individual
D) the longitudinal because it is very easy and inexpensive

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The longitudinal design is the best choice if the goal is to assess age changes because it allows researchers to observe changes within the same individual over time. This design allows for the tracking of individual developmental trajectories, providing a more accurate representation of changes that occur with age. While cross-sectional designs can assess age differences, they cannot provide information on how individuals change over time.

Which of the Following Developmental Research Designs Would Be the Best