1. Time-consuming: Longitudinal research design requires a long duration of time as it examines the same group of people over an extended period. The drawn-out nature of the research design can lead to drop-offs and attrition, limiting the number of participants.
2. Costly: Longitudinal research design involves additional costs, such as recruitment, infrastructure, and data collection, which could accumulate over time.
3. Sampling issues: Longitudinal research requires a group of people who will participate in the study for an extended period. It could be challenging, especially in certain populations, to recruit a stable or sustainable sample.
4. Age-cohort effects: Age cohort effects may be a limitation of the research design that can impact the generalizability of the findings.
5. Attrition bias: Attrition bias causes the loss of critical data and the distortion of the results. Longitudinal research design is susceptible to this as participants may drop out due to personal reasons, which could impact the results of the study.
6. Limited generalizability: Longitudinal research designs frequently involve samples from one population, limiting the generalizability and applicability of findings to larger and more diverse populations.
7. Incidence and Pragmatic effect: Longitudinal research may involve interventions or other changes made during the research period, which may lead to effects caused by incidental events, impacting the study's outcome.
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