Longitudinal studies

KEY TERM

a study which examines the same group of period over a long period of time

longitudinal study

What is an example of a famous longitudinal study?

• National Child Development Study

• followed over 17,000 people born in Britain during one week in 1958

• since original survey, 11 follow-up surveys (at time of writing)

• members of original group can decide not to take part

• data collected by questionnaires/interviews

• parents/teachers provided info on children

• examines physical, educational + social development of members

• shows increase in living standards but substantial rise in inequality

• decline in marriage & increase in divorce

What are the ethical concerns regarding longitudinal studies?

• informed consent

• confidentiality

• separation, death etc. may be sensitive

What are the advantages of longitudinal studies?

• show development over time

• can be sure that changes in behaviour/attitude are not just due to changes in sample

• important data to inform gov. policy

• validity helped by fact that sample does not have to recount events from past (memory might fail)

What are the disadvantages of longitudinal studies?

• sample attrition (reduction of original sample) eg. National Child development study only had 9,000 respondents in 2013

• becomes less representative as those who can’t make contact often have common characteristics eg. refusal to participate, emigration

• cost