S u m m a r y

 

Aunola K (2005)

Using latent growth curve modeling to understand developmental phenomena

Psykologia 40:502-514. Vammala ISSN 0355-1067.

 

The article aims to describe the latent growth curve modeling (LGM) approach to studying developmental issues and, in particular, to provide suitable methodological tools to appliers so they can learn more about their data and the developmental phenomena they are interested in. First an introduction to the LGM method and thebasic modeling ideas behind it are provided. Then, various extensions of the LGM, including the. piecewise approach and Growth Mixture Modeling (Muthén & Muthén, 2000), are introduced and discussed. Finally, recent results from an ongoing cross-lagged longitudinal Jyväskylä Entrance into Primary School Study (JEPS; Nurmi & Aunola, 1999-2004) are presented as examples of how to apply LGM in studying developmental dynamics of learning math (Aunola, Leskinen, Lerkkanen, & Nurmi, 2004) and reading (Leppänen, Niemi, Aunola, & Nurmi, 2004).

Key words:

Latent growth curve modeling, growth mixture modeling, developmental dynamics

Kaisa Aunola, Ph.D (Psych.), Assistant Professor, Department of Psychology, P.O. BoX 35, FIN-40014 University of Jyväskylä, Finland.