Three methods for studying developmental change: a case of reading skills and self-concept.

Full Abstract

AIMS:
First, to introduce and compare three statistical methods for investigating development as a cumulative process:
a simplex model, latent growth curve analysis, and clustering by cases. Second, to investigate the developmental dynamics of reading skills, and self-concept of reading ability, across the first year of primary school.

SAMPLE:
One hundred and five (61 boys, 44 girls) 6- to 7-year-old children from four first-grade classes in two primary schools participated in the study.

METHOD:
Children were studied three times during their first school year using an identical set of measurements:
a Reading Skills Test and the Self-Concept of Ability scale.

RESULTS:
A uni-construct 'Matthew' effect was found for the development of self-concept, but not for the reading skills. However, the results showed that there was a multi-construct cumulative cycle between children's reading skills and their self-concept.

CONCLUSIONS:
Simultaneous use of variable- and person-oriented methods in developmental research seems to be a valuable approach, which not only provides a proper way to investigate the cumulative developmental cycles but also an option to examine how large a proportion of the sample follows the positive and negative pattern found in variable-oriented analyses.

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Author information

Author/s: Aunola, Kaisa (K); Leskinen, Esko (E); Onatsu-Arvilommi, Tiina (T); Nurmi, Jari-Erik (JE);

Affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Jyväskylä, Finland. AUNOLA(-atsign-)PSYKA.JYU.FI

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article

Journal: The British journal of educational psychology (Br J Educ Psychol), published in England. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2002-Sep; vol 72 (issue Pt 3) : pp 343-64

Dates: Created 2002/10/24; Completed 2002/11/26; Revised 2004/11/17;

PMID: 12396310, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 11/6/2008)

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