Longitudinal Study
A study that follows the same subjects over time, collecting data at multiple points to observe change and sequence.
A longitudinal study measures the same cases repeatedly, across weeks, years, or decades. Because it captures the order of events, it supports stronger inferences about change and possible causes than a single snapshot can. Common forms include panel studies, which track the same individuals, and cohort studies, which follow a group defined by a shared starting point. The main costs are time, repeated-measures complexity, and attrition, the gradual loss of participants between waves.
In a thesis, even a short two-wave design can support claims about change that a cross-sectional study cannot. Plan for attrition from the start, describe how missing data are handled, and be explicit about the interval between waves and why it fits the process you are studying.
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