An examination of longitudinal study typologies for business research

Longitudinal studies have become a standard methodology for academic research that examines issues in the ever-changing, complex global world of business. In business research, longitudinal studies are particularly effective for measuring how business policies and strategies affect the performance of a business firm over time. The literature's call for more longitudinal studies runs up against a rather incoherent and potentially confusing use of terminology and typology undermining the accessibility for business academics and practitioners who are not familiar with this area. This study provides a thorough review of longitudinal study typologies, including an annotated, illustrated methodological framework integrating the key facets of observational longitudinal studies. Although the framework is generalisable beyond the behavioural or business context, it refrains from dealing with the specific nuances of areas such as medicine. This review and framework should be beneficial to academics and other researchers in properly describing, setting up, and understanding longitudinal studies.