Which of the following designs tends to be more resource-intensive due to repeated data collection?

The longitudinal design is typically more resource-intensive because it involves collecting data from the same subjects repeatedly over an extended period. This consistency allows researchers to track changes and developments within the same individuals, providing a deeper understanding of the phenomena being studied. However, this approach requires substantial time, effort, and resources, including continued recruitment of participants, follow-up assessments, and data management over time.

In contrast, a cross-sectional design gathers data at a single point in time from different individuals, focusing on a snapshot rather than an ongoing process, making it less resource-intensive. Case studies provide in-depth analysis of a single subject or a small group and usually require fewer resources compared to longitudinal studies since they do not necessitate repeated measures over time. Content analysis, which involves examining existing documents or media, also typically requires less resource investment than continuous data collection. Thus, the nature of longitudinal studies inherently makes them more demanding in terms of resources used in repeated data gathering.