In developmental research designs, what is a cohort?

• A. A single participant who is intensively studied over an extended period in a case study design
• B. A research method in which different age groups are compared at one point in time (cross-sectional design)
• C. A group of people who share a common characteristic, typically having been born around the same time, and who are studied as they age
• D. A variable that the researcher manipulates to determine its effect on a dependent variable in an experiment

Answer: (C)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Step 1: Understand the context of developmental research designs, which study how people change over time.
2. Step 2: Recognize that a 'cohort' refers to a group of individuals who share a common characteristic, often their birth period.
3. Step 3: Differentiate a cohort from other research designs, such as case studies (single participant) or cross-sectional designs (different age groups compared at one time).
4. Step 4: Note that in cohort studies, researchers follow this group over time to observe developmental changes.
5. Step 5: Conclude that a cohort is best defined as a group of people born around the same time who are studied as they age.