Longitudinal Data and Their Uses

Abstract

In the 1980 s, criminologists began to consider much more seriously the importance of pursuing longitudinal research on how antisocial behavior develops over the life course. Although there were many proponents of such an attempt (Blumstein, Cohen, & Nagin, 1978; Blumstein, Cohen, Roth, & Visher, 1986; Farrington, Ohlin, & Wilson, 1986), the proposition was not without its critics (Gottfredson & Hirschi, 1986, 1987, 1988). These skeptics argued that the endeavor would be too expensive, both monetarily and in opportunity costs, to be justified and that little would be gained over traditional cross-sectional research. Nothing could have been farther from the truth.