Professor Higgins is concerned about the findings of a longitudinal study on childhood depression that she conducted between 1985 and 2015 in New York because many of the participants witnessed the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center. Professor Higgins is concerned about __________ effects.
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The concern Professor Higgins has regarding the findings of the longitudinal study is related to cohort effects. Cohort effects occur when a specific group of individuals experience a common event or circumstance that could influence the results of a study. In this case, the participants witnessing the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center could have had a significant impact on their development and mental health outcomes, leading to cohort effects observed in the study. Choice A, 'practice,' is incorrect as it refers to the repeated performance of an activity to improve skill. Choice B, 'cross-sectional,' is incorrect as it involves data collection at a single point in time. Choice C, 'dropout,' is incorrect as it refers to participants leaving a study prematurely.