Unit 5 Research Designs and Sampling, Chapter 9 Longitudinal Studies

Wildemuth chapter 9

Scope: process that occurs over time, observe it over time to understand more fully
behaviors change as the searchers learn more
cannot be answered with a static description and Association

Longitudinal research refers to a whole family of different research designs including repeated cross-sectional studies, not necessarily including the same study per Spence

Prospective panel designs
a) data are collected for each item or variable for two or more distinct time periods
be) the subjects or cases analyzed are the same or least comparable from once. To the next
C) the analysis involves some comparison of data between or among periods

Two or more participant panels may be included to improve the robustness of the design
data are collected at least three occasions so that trajectory of change can be observed

Advantages: comparing strengths and weaknesses to those of cross-sectional research designs
first: longitudinal research can examine changes or other processes that occur over time within individuals/examine the ways in each participant has changed from one time to the next/can examine the duration of particular episodes or phenomena

Second: basis for drawing conclusions about cause-and-effect/3 important criteria
the two of burials must cover very, this relationship between the must not be attributable to any other cause, and the variable to be believed to be the cause must precede or be simultaneous with the effect
researchers interested in making the strongest case that one variable causes another should consider a large and new to know study design.

Data collection and analysis in longitudinal studies
interviews, questionnaires or other types of measures to asked the participants
collect data from existing records
only rule of thumb is equitable data must be gathered over multiple occasions
make comparisons based on those data

Plan for three times you will collected and how they will be timed
many things, both theoretical and practical. Lifecycle of the process you are trying to observe and how quickly it occurs

Challenges: challenges associated with your sampling attrition from your sample, difficulty of measuring the same variable on each occasion and the effects of extraneous events (including your study procedures) on the phenomenon being absurd
plan for the study will need to conduct when your original plans don't work
anticipate the challenges you might face

Goal is to understand on the individual level phenomenon occurs over time
hold on to all your study participants over the course the study
methods for measuring the variables of interest – can be compared with each other
anticipate extraneous events that could have a biasing effect.