The title of the infographic is, Thinking Critically About: Cross-Sectional and Longitudinal Studies
The Learning Objective Question reads, What are cross-sectional and longitudinal studies, and why is it important to know which method was used?
The infographic is divided into two halves. At the top of the left half is the text, Researchers using the cross-sectional method study different groups at one time. They have found that mental ability declines with age. Under this text is an illustration of five people of different ages and ethnicities sitting at a table answering a questionnaire. Under the illustration, a downward-facing arrow points to text that reads, Comparing 70-year-olds and 30-year-olds means comparing different people but also different eras. These researchers were comparing: A bulleted list begins.
Bullet item 1 text reads, generally less-educated people (born in the early 1900s) with better-educated people (born after 1950). The illustration is of a graduation cap.
Bullet item 2 text reads, people raised in large families with people raised in smaller families. The illustration is of a family of five.
Bullet item 3 text reads, people from less-affluent families with people from more-affluent families. The illustration is of a dollar sign.
The right half of the infographic has text at the top that reads, Researchers using the longitudinal method study and restudy the same group at different times in their life span. They have found that intelligence remains stable, and on some tests it even increases. (Footnote 2: Salthouse, 2010, 2014; Schaie & Geiwitz, 1982.) Under this text is an illustration of a group of questionnaire-takers in 1950, another illustration of the same questionnaire-takers in 1985, and the last illustration of the same group in the present. The illustrations show these people aging. A downward-facing arrow from these images points to text that reads, But these studies have their own issue. Participants who survive to the end may be the healthiest and brightest people. When researchers adjust for loss of participants, they find an intelligence decline, especially after age 85. (Footnote 3: Brayne et al., 1999.) This text is accompanied by an illustration of a gravestone with RIP engraved on it, and a daisy growing beside it.