Different research designs are in practice to study different groups. Some last for a shorter period of time, and some stay for longer. The cross-sectional and cross-sequential research designs are two such designs. The cross-sectional design is a bit faster design which studies the issue relatively faster than other designs. On the other hand, the cross-sequential design is a bit longer and allows for observing different groups for a longer period.

Both cross-sectional and cross-sequential research designs have their own benefits and use in the research. In some ways, they are similar to each other and in some ways different. In today’s post, I will unpack the differences and similarities that exist between these two famous research designs in psychology. However, before that happens, let’s define both research designs separately.

What Is Cross-Sectional Research Design?

A cross-sectional study is a research design in which you collect data from many different individuals at a single time. The phrase “single time” is of importance because it is also the main difference between cross-sectional and cross-sequential research. It says the data is collected from the individuals simultaneously instead of observing them repeatedly in different windows of time. It is important to note that a cross-sectional study is observational. It means that the researcher does not manipulate the natural setting and observe the variables without influencing them in reality. This type of research design is very common in the fields of sociology, epistemology, and psychology.

What Does It Mean By A Cross-Sequential Research Study?

A cross-sequential study is a research study in which two or more groups of individuals are studied over time repeatedly. It is a relatively new research technique in the field of psychology, which is a combination of both cross-sectional and longitudinal research designs. For example, a researcher tries to observe the mathematical skills of children of 6 years of age. The cross-sectional study allows the researcher to study the skills of all the children in one go. On the other hand, the cross-sequential design does not allow so. It tells the researcher to repeatedly observe the mathematical skills of the children of 6 years of age. Hence, these are the basic definitions of cross-sectional and cross-sequential research designs. If you are working on any of these research studies in your dissertation and are unable to differentiate both types, you can buy dissertation online from experts.

Differences Between Cross-Sectional And Cross-Sequential Research

After reading the information above, you now have a concrete idea of what those research designs are about. As I mentioned at the start of the article, both research designs are similar in some ways and different in some ways. So, now is the time to explore those similarities and differences. So, a brief description of the differences is as follows:

The Difference In Researcher Bias

Researcher bias is the first difference that exists between both research designs. Previous research has shown that cross-sectional research designs are very much prone to biased estimates as the researcher has to conclude the research fast. Also, the researcher can manipulate the results of the observation very easily. On the other hand, a cross-sequential study is a popular alternative to this problem. It is a compromise between cross-sectional and longitudinal research designs and observes the subject over time, due to which the bias factor is negligible.

The Difference In The Information Of Cause-And-Effect

The cross-sectional research does not give any information about the cause-and-effect of the problem or subject being studied. It only observes the subject for a single time and drives its conclusion. So, no information on what processes have developed certain habits or characteristics in the subjects and what are its effects. In contrast, the cross-sequential research study observes the research subjects repeatedly. By doing so, it gives information on cause-and-effect. It discusses the changes in the subject over time and explores the causes which may have caused those changes.

The Difference In The Time Period Of Observation

This difference between cross-sectional and cross-sequential research is pretty clear and can be guessed by reading the definitions of both designs. The cross-sectional research does not involve any time lags or observing the individuals over and over in discrete and defined sets of time. You observe the population for a single time and draw a conclusion. However, it is different in the case of cross-sequential research. You observe the population or groups of the population over defined sets of time. For example, you observe the population every 6 months for a total period of 5 years.

Similarities Between Cross-Sequential And Cross-Sectional Research

So, you have understood the differences that exist between these two research designs. Now, let’s talk about the similarities. So, a brief description of the similarities is as follows:

The Similarity In The Research Method

Although cross-sequential and cross-sectional research designs are different in operation, they have a similarity in the research method. Being methods used mostly in psychology, both use the observation research method. It includes observing an individual or group of individuals for a specified period of time. You observe the previously defined characteristics or traits of the population simultaneously or over a period of time repeatedly. By doing this, you report the results of your observation as a thesis or dissertation.

The Similarity In Participants

Another similarity between cross-sectional and cross-sequential research is that both employ participants with different traits. It could be the participants of different ages, colours, races, or any other parameter that you have set in your research. The main point is that the participants in both research designs have different characteristics, which is a similarity.

Conclusion

Cross-sectional research is a type of research design in which you observe the participants at a single time. On the other hand, in cross-sequential research design, you observe the population repeatedly over defined time lags. So, both cross-sectional and cross-sequential research designs are different in time lags. Further differences in terms of researcher bias and information presentation are discussed above. Both research designs are also similar in the use of research methods. Conclusively, they are not completely different and completely similar to each other. Study and learn their differences and similarities.