The Study Skills Handbook Essay Example for Free

The Study Skills Handbook Essay In order to overcome the weaknesses of both the cross-sectional and longitudinal approach most developmental psychologists use a combination of the two in a single study as illustrated by Schaie (1965). He conducted a study of dependency behaviour in two, five and eight year olds. The first part of the study, which was cross-sectional, required data to be collected at all three age points. The longitudinal approach was then used following an interim of three years, when the two year olds reached the age of five and the five year olds reached the age of eight. If this study was simply longitudinal it would have taken six years before data collection was complete, therefore the combination of both approaches represents a fifty percent saving in time. It also allows for a check to be carried out on a possible cohort effect. Both data collection methods, the longitudinal and cross-sectional approach, can produce different findings on the same study. Weschslers cross-sectional study showed a decline in intelligence from the age of twenty. In contrast Schaie and Willis longitudinal study of intelligence showed an increase in intelligence up until the age of fifty. The reasons for the different findings is firstly the cohort effect, different past histories, connected to the cross-sectional approach and secondly participant attrition, that is to say participant drop out, associated with the longitudinal approach. In conclusion the longitudinal design is not the preferred approach for developmental psychologists because of the costs, time involved and participant attrition. On the other hand the cross-sectional design is very popular and is the preferred method as data covering a wide range of age points can be collected in a very short period of time. It is also cost effective and developmental questions can be answered quickly and efficiently. References Davey, G., (Ed) (2004) Complete Psychology. Oxon: Hodder Stroughton. Gleitman, H, Fridlund, A. J. F. Reisberg, D. (2004) Psychology (6th Ed.). New York: W.W.Norton. Cottrell, S., (2003) The Study Skills Handbook. (2nd Ed). Palgrave Macmillan. Millar, W.S. (2004) Methods used by Developmental Psychologists. Transcript PY 102C Developmental Psychology. Student No: 03037041