Which of the following best describes cross-sequential research in developmental psychology?

• A. It combines both longitudinal and cross-sectional research methods to study changes over time in different age groups.
• B. It compares different age groups at a single point in time.
• C. It focuses exclusively on case studies of individual development.
• D. It examines only one group of participants over a long period of time.

Answer: (A)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Step 1: Understand the key research methods in developmental psychology: longitudinal, cross-sectional, and cross-sequential designs.
2. Step 2: Recall that longitudinal research studies the same group of participants repeatedly over a long period to observe changes over time.
3. Step 3: Recognize that cross-sectional research compares different age groups at a single point in time to infer developmental differences.
4. Step 4: Learn that cross-sequential research combines these two methods by studying several age groups over time, allowing researchers to track changes within and between groups.
5. Step 5: Conclude that cross-sequential research provides a more comprehensive understanding of development by addressing limitations of both longitudinal and cross-sectional designs.