The term cohort effect is used in social science to describe shared characteristics over time among individuals who are grouped by a shared temporal experience, such as year of birth, or common life experience, such as time of exposure to radiation. [1] [2] Researchers evaluate this phenomenon using a cohort analysis. [3]
For economists, the cohort effect is an important factor to consider in the context of resource dependency.[ citation needed ] This is because cohorts, which in organizations are often defined by entry or birth date, retain some common characteristic (size, cohesiveness, competition) that can affect the organization. [4] For example, cohort effects are critical issues in school enrollment.
The cohort effect is relevant to epidemiologists searching for patterns in illnesses.[ citation needed ] Cohort effects can sometimes be mistaken for the anticipation phenomenon, which is the earlier onset of genetic illnesses in later generations. [5] There is evidence for both a cohort effect and an anticipation effect in the increase in childhood-onset bipolar disorder. [5]