Question

Researchers studying relationships encounter some special challenges. Which of the following statements about the challenges researchers μst address when studying relationships are accurate and which are not?

a) Longitudinal studies can provide insights into relationship dynamics over time
b) Cross-sectional studies are ideal for capturing momentary relationship dynamics
c) Social desirability bias may affect self-reported relationship data
d) Qualitative research methods are not suitable for studying relationships

Answer 1

Longitudinal studies provide valuable insights over time and are accurate for the study of relationships, whereas cross-sectional studies offer a snapshot of various populations at once.

Step-by-step explanation:

When studying relationships, researchers face various challenges that must be addressed. Longitudinal studies are indeed beneficial in providing insights into relationship dynamics over time, by following the same individuals and observing changes and continuities. Despite being time-consuming and potentially expensive, they offer valuable data on how people or situations develop. Cross-sectional studies, on the other hand, are more suited for capturing a snapshot of different populations at a single time, which can be ideal for examining momentary dynamics, but they cannot provide the same depth of understanding over time due to cohort differences.

Social desirability bias may affect self-reported data, and contrary to one statement, qualitative methods are indeed suitable for studying relationships.