Longitudinal vs Cross Sectional Designs
In addition to the need for a comprehensive theory to
guide SCI research, there is a need for longitudinal
research in this area. Due to the practical limitations of
longitudinal research this type of study is rare. Cross-
sectional designs established the relationship between
predictor variables and emotional adjustment at one
point in time. Such relationships may not hold when
predicting from variables at one point in time to
emotional adjustment at a latter point in time.