The measurement of dynamic latent variables in longitudinal aging research: Quantifying adult development

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Dynamic latent variables involve systematic intraindividual change over time. Although it seems natural to apply traditional measurement theory to dynamic latent variables, in fact this is often inappropriate. Traditional measurement theory is based on the idea of static latent variables and offers little guidance to the researcher who wishes to measure a dynamic latent variable with a high degree of accuracy and validity. It is the contention of this article that measurement of a dynamic latent variable must start from a clearly defined substantive theory about human development. Two approaches that take this perspective are presented: the longitudinal Guttman simplex (LGS), a measurement model for dynamic latent variables undergoing irreversible cumulative, unitary development; and latent transition analysis (LTA), a more general latent class measurement model.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)13-20
Number of pages8
JournalExperimental Aging Research
Volume17
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - 1991

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Aging
  • Arts and Humanities (miscellaneous)
  • General Psychology
  • Geriatrics and Gerontology

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