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Birth Cohort

  • Reference work entry
Encyclopedia of Child Behavior and Development

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Synonyms

Cohort; Generation

Definition

A birth cohort refers to a group of children born in a given year, or over a given period of time [1].

Description

A birth cohort can be used to describe a subgroup of children born over a given period of time. Birth cohorts are increasingly used in research design to provide information regarding health and development of different populations within a community [2]. Birth cohorts may also be followed over time to systematically explore different health related events that occur during the life span. For example, obesity is considered to be a major problem for individuals in the developed world. Careful follow-up of children all born at a particular time can reveal patterns of behaviour that might lead to obesity. The follow-up of multiple birth cohorts born at different points in time may reveal how any changes in eating habits influence obesity.

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References

  1. Rybash, J. M., Roodin, P. A., & Hoyer, W. J. (1995). Adult development and aging (3rd ed.). London: Brown & Benchmark.

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  2. Batty, G. D., et al. (2007). Examining life-course influences on chronic disease: The importance of birth cohort studies from low and middle-income countries. An overview. Brazilian Journal of Medical and Biological Research, 40, 1277–1286.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, University of Canterbury, Private Bag 4800, Christchurch, Canterbury, 8024, New Zealand

    Audrey McKinlay (Dr)

Authors
  1. Audrey McKinlay
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Neurology, Learning and Behavior Center, 230 South 500 East, Suite 100, Salt Lake City, Utah, 84102, USA

    Sam Goldstein Ph.D.

  2. Department of Psychology MS 2C6, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA, 22030, USA

    Jack A. Naglieri Ph.D. (Professor of Psychology) (Professor of Psychology)

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© 2011 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC

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McKinlay, A. (2011). Birth Cohort. In: Goldstein, S., Naglieri, J.A. (eds) Encyclopedia of Child Behavior and Development. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-79061-9_355

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-79061-9_355

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA

  • Print ISBN: 978-0-387-77579-1

  • Online ISBN: 978-0-387-79061-9

  • eBook Packages: Behavioral Science

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