The article presents a specificity of dynamic research based on panel studies. On the basis of chosen examples, including long-term Polish nationwide research, the field of panel studies application as well as difficulties in the implementation of the studies were indicated. The main purpose of this publication was to present some aspects of methodical research tools of panel study projects, that are conducted both by individual researchers and research teams. Basing on examples, panel studies diversified in terms of scope, measurement techniques, sampling and problem assumptions, were presented. The article starts with the research conducted by Ryszard Borowicz at the turn of the sixties and seventies, that includes one typical study cycle of Nicolaus Copernicus University – the research coveres the whole education cycle. Then, the article describes Polish Panel Survey POLPAN research that has been conducted since the end of the eighties. Besides determining individual trajectory of Polish fortunes, the research introduces innovative approach to social structure in a dynamic perspective. The Social Diagnosis panel studies project, of which the first round of studies was held in 2000, was in turn presented in this article with a special emphasis on defining and sampling methods, as well as mechanisms of dealing with the sample’s “mortality”. The last example included in the article, presents the research conducted by Zielonogórski Center (Ośrodek Zielonogórski), in which the panel studies method is particularly applied to the field of pedagogical studies. The comparison of such different projects, in particular studies from the seventies and contemporary studies, allowed to indicate several points differentiating research tools, and in addition, opportunities that are created by using modern technologies in the area of data collection, reaching respondents and dissemination of study results.