A cross-sectional study is an observational research focused on analyzing data on different variables in a given sample population, collected over time. I used this type of research when I needed to write my college paper based on practical research, so I thought it’d be helpful for other students to share my pieces of knowledge about this topic. 

The cross-sectional study, or prevalence study, is observational research. For the study, a series of variables are selected from a given sample population; and all this during a given period.

Thus, the study’s objective is to analyze the variables and draw conclusions about their behavior. For this reason, the data collected in the study come from people who are similar in all the variables, except for the one under study, so the latter remains constant. 

A cross-sectional study, along with a longitudinal study, is a type of observational study, and the results can be used widely for a variety of purposes, including writing case study examples for students and for college essay writers. 

 

Characteristics of the cross-sectional study

 

Among the characteristics of a cross-sectional study, it is worth highlighting the following:

• Quick to execute
• Cheaper than other studies
• Different variables can be observed momentarily
• Additional samples from different specific periods can be compared

 

Types of cross-sectional studies

 

Among the most important types of cross-sectional studies, the following are worth mentioning:

Descriptive: Serves to evaluate the distribution and frequency of a given topic of study over a given demographic group.

Analytical: Used to investigate the relationship between two parameters, related or not. However, it is a methodology that has shortcomings.

 

Advantages and disadvantages of cross-sectional studies

 

Cross-sectional studies, like everything else, have limitations. Therefore, the advantages and disadvantages of a cross-sectional study are shown below.

 

Among the advantages of a cross-sectional study are the following:

• It allows the study of several outcome variables.
• Short study execution time since there is no follow-up.
• It has a lower economic cost. 
• It allows reasonable control in the selection of subjects.
• Suitable for descriptive analysis. It is also worth trying to find someone from papers writers interested in this study’s topic and can help you with the written part.

 

On the other hand, the disadvantages include:

• There are many limitations.
• Difficulty in interpreting associations.
• The cause cannot be determined.
• It is impossible to predict whether there is causality between variables.
• Reliable prognoses cannot be made.
• Prevents objective measurement of risk.

 

Difference between cross-sectional and longitudinal studies

 

Although we are talking about qualitative research, in both cases, we should know that there are differences between the two types.

Among the differences, it is worth highlighting the following:

• Cross-sectional studies are quick to execute. The longitudinal research may take longer to complete.
• Cross-sectional studies do not offer cause-and-effect relationships; longitudinal studies may do so.
• The cross-sectional study analyzes a given period. The longitudinal research could study different time intervals.
• While the cross-sectional study allows several variables to be observed simultaneously, longitudinal research allows only one variable.
• The cross-sectional study is more economical. The longitudinal study is more expensive.

 

Where can we find cross-sectional studies?

 

The main fields in which this study can be found are the social sciences and health sciences.

The following section shows some examples of cross-sectional studies in both fields.

 

Examples of cross-sectional studies

 

In the economic field

Let us imagine a company that wants to know how spending is distributed between sex and age, trying to identify trends over time.

Similarly, let us imagine that a person wants to know how a heterogeneous population behaves in the face of specific changes in supply or demand.

In the field of health sciences

In this sense, let us imagine that we want to know whether a segment of the population between two ages might have a specific impairment.

On the other hand, if we want to understand how a particular variable affects a heterogeneous population group.

All these assumptions can be studied with cross-sectional studies.