Social Research Methods: Qualitative and Quantitative Approaches

WHAT ARE THE MAJOR TYPES OF SOCIAL RESEARCH?

CROSS-SECTIONAL: Observe a collection of people at one time.

TIME SERIES: Observe different people at multiple times.

PANEL: Observe the exact same people at two or more times.

COHORT: Observe people who shared an experience at two or more times.

CASE STUDY: Observe a small set intensely across time.

February 2011

1950

1985

1970 1990 2010

1995 2005

Married in 1962 2002

2006 2011

1982

FIGURE 3 The Time Dimension in Social Research