Two new research case studies highlighting cross-study research have been added to the CLOSER Learning Hub, our online teaching resource aimed at helping students, researchers and professionals explore longitudinal studies and how to use them.
The latest additions to the Hub’s research case studies, which are based on published research from longitudinal studies, are:
- Childhood environment and adult mental well-being: In this example, researchers used harmonised data from three studies to investigate the effect of family socioeconomic circumstances, child-parent relationships, family stability and parental health in childhood on subsequent mental well-being in adulthood.
- The effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental health: This case study looks at how depression, anxiety and mental well-being has been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Using harmonised data from two studies, it identifies the characteristics of those most at-risk of mental ill-health during the pandemic.
Each of the case studies is presented in a clear, easy-to-follow format, under the following sections: background to the research; research questions; study data and definition, key findings, a discussion of the advantages and challenges of using data from longitudinal studies, and implications for policy and practice. These new case studies, additionally, emphasise the value of undertaking cross-study research and the benefits of using harmonised data, along with the challenges.
Each case study also provides discussion topics for use by lecturers in their teaching and a link to the original research paper.
The latest cross-study entries complement existing case studies on: ‘Social media and adolescent well-being’, ‘Ethnic differences in unemployment’, ‘Pre-teens alcohol consumption’, ‘Children of immigrants’ cognitive achievement’, ‘The rise of the obesity epidemic’, ‘Britain’s mobility problem’ and ‘Scarring effects of childhood bullying’.
The CLOSER Learning Hub exists to increase expertise in longitudinal studies and is primarily aimed at undergraduate and postgraduate students, as well as the lecturers and researchers who teach them. It is also an invaluable resource for individuals working in government and the third sector who are new to the field and could benefit from improving their understanding of longitudinal studies and the data they provide.
Further information
- Explore all research case studies
- Discover more on the Learning Hub