Longitudinal studies, case studies and life histories Flashcards
1
Q
Longitudinal studies
A
- selects a sample and collects data from them at regular intervals over a period of years
- sample may be called a ‘panel’ or ‘cohort’
- surveys may be called ‘waves’ or ‘sweeps’
- can show change over time
2
Q
The uses of longitudinal studies
A
- make it possible to study change over time
- provide detail on the changes that occur
- possible to discover the causes of changes by comparing earlier results with later ones
- may provide more valid data
- can avoid relying on human memories of the past as there are previous results to refer back to
3
Q
Problems with longitudinal studies
A
- needs a willing and available sample
- likely that the sample will shrink as people die, move away, can’t be traced or become unwilling
- those in the sample are conscious that they’re being studied - could be affected by the Hawthorne effect
- very expensive
4
Q
Examples of longitudinal studies
A
- the ‘Up’ series follows the lives of 14 brits with interviews every 7 years, produced for ITV, directed by Almond then Apted, began in 1964 with 7 up, then most recently in 2019 was 63 up
- The Longitudinal Study of Young People in England (LSYPE) launched in 2004, gathers data from 15000 young people and their parents about school, relationships, aspirations etc
- The census (every 10 years since 1801) of the entire population
- Parker et al studied drug use in 1125 young people aged 14 at the start from 1991-6 using self-completion questionnaires and interviews
5
Q
Case studies and life histories
A
- intensive study of a single example
- can involve any research method but typically use qualitative methods
- life studies are case studies which focus on one individual or a small group
- not representative but very in depth
- may not be valid due to need to recall the past
6
Q
Example of a case study
A
Paul Willis’ Learning to Labour
Case study of working class male students (‘lads’) in Wolverhampton and their attitudes towards school
