Which research design involves studying multiple cohorts at the same time?

The research design that involves studying multiple cohorts at the same time is the cross-sectional design. In this approach, researchers collect data from different groups, typically representing various age groups or different demographic categories, at a single point in time. This allows for the analysis of differences and similarities across these groups, providing insights into developmental or social phenomena as they are occurring among the different cohorts.

Cross-sectional studies are particularly valuable for identifying trends and patterns that may exist within a population, as they can facilitate comparisons among various age groups or cohorts without the time commitment that longitudinal studies require. This enables researchers to gather a diverse set of data quickly and efficiently, contributing to a broader understanding of how specific factors may influence different groups at once.

In contrast, longitudinal studies track the same cohort over time, cross-sequential studies combine the features of both longitudinal and cross-sectional designs, and experimental designs focus on manipulating variables to establish cause-and-effect relationships rather than examining differences across cohorts simultaneously.