This guide informs the construction and execution of studies exploring college student development over time.
Longitudinal studies represent a gold standard for understanding college student experiences and outcomes, yet many scholars partake in single-time surveys and interviews to avoid the challenges that occur during prolonged investigation. This book walks researchers through each step of the process, including strategies for avoiding mistakes in design, coping with unexpected variables, and learning lessons from real-world research experiences.
This volume is a useful companion for educational researchers considering, planning, or launching longitudinal designs, and it also functions as a practical supplement for graduate courses focusing on research methods and/or college students.
1. Conducting Longitudinal Studies of College Students: Affordances,
Limitations, Challenges, and Strategies
Kristen A. Renn & David J. Nguyen
2. Design Consideration for Developing a Longitudinal Research Project
Vasti Torres
3. Theoretical Considerations in Longitudinal Research with College Students
Robert D. Reason & Ronald E. Hallett
4. Being a Solo Scholar on a Longitudinal Study
Rosemary J. Perez
5. Managing a Healthy, Productive Longitudinal Research Team
Jodi L. Linley
6. Imagining Engagement As: Strategies for Building and Maintaining
Participant Engagement
Clar C. Gbuyan, Moira Ozias, and Z Nicolazzo
7. Organizing Strategies for Analyzing Large-scale Longitudinal Study Data
Zoë B. Corwin, Joseph Kitchen, Ralitsa Todorova, and Christine Rocha
8. Ethical Considerations for Analysis and Interpretation During Longitudinal
Studies
Daniel Tillapaugh
9. Researching Development: Insights from the Wabash National Study
Patricia King
10. Writing Analyses from Longitudinal Research Data: An Illustrative Account
from the Queer Students of Color in STEM Project
Luis A. Leyva, Megumi Asada, Nicollette D. Mitchell, and Elsie Kindall
11. Sustaining Longitudinal Research Projects: Securing Financial Resources
Over Time Antonio Duran
12. Project Management: Considerations for Organizing and Executing
Longitudinal Research
Brandon R. G. Smith
13. Managing Data Across Multiple Generations of Researchers
Olivia C. Copeland, Nicholas R. Stroup, and David J. Nguyen
14. How to Wind Down Longitudinal Research Project
Carli Rosati & Chelsea Noble
David J. Nguyen is a Professor of Higher Education and Student Affairs at Ohio University, USA.
Kristen A. Renn is a Professor of Higher, Adult, and Lifelong Education at Michigan State University, USA.
