A review of concepts and methods for research with longitudinal data
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.5944/ap.22.1.43402Keywords:
longitudinal research, change, repeated measuresAbstract
In psychology, understanding how phenomena influence one another and develop over time is key for grasping their causes, consequences, and underlying mechanisms. In this article, we present a review of the fundamental aspects involved in investigating longitudinal processes of change. We begin by exploring the types of questions that guide such investigations, distinguishing between interest in the outcomes of a process (e.g., do symptoms decrease after therapy?), the development of the phenomenon itself (how do cognitive abilities evolve during childhood?), differences between individuals (why do some people learn faster than others?), and individual processes of change (how does an individual's affect fluctuate over time?). We then address the dynamic nature of phenomena and their potential patterns of change, such as growth trajectories or fluctuations around a stable equilibrium. We also discuss research designs appropriate for capturing these dynamics. Finally, we review the main statistical models available to study the functioning and development of these processes. We hope that this review and the references to the literature provided will be useful for researchers interested in studying processes of change
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