Data Quality in Longitudinal Research

by David Magnusson, Lars R. Bergman

Overview

This overview of the central issues of data quality in longitudinal research focuses on data relevant for studying individual development. The topics covered include reliability, validity, sampling, aggregation, and the correspondence between theory and method. More specific, practical issues in longitudinal research, such as the drop-out problem and issues of confidentiality are also addressed. The volume is the result of an interdisciplinary endeavor by leading European scientists to discuss appropriate ways of handling various types of longitudinal data, including psychiatric data, alcohol data, and criminal data.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780521380911
Publisher:	Cambridge University Press
Publication date:	05/25/1990
Series:	European Network on Longitudinal Studies on Individual Development
Pages:	298
Product dimensions:	6.14(w) x 9.09(h) x 1.02(d)

Table of Contents

Preface; List of contributors; 1. General issues about data quality in longitudinal research L. Bergman and D. Magnusson; 2. Improving the quality of psychiatric data: classification, cause and course M. Rutter and A. Pickles; 3. Data in epidemiological longitudinal research G. Eklund; 4. Data in pediatric longitudinal research R. Zetterstrom; 5. Alcohol data in longitudinal research A. Uchtenhagen; 6. Retrospective data, undesirable behaviour, and the longitudinal perspective C.-G. Janson; 7. Minimising attrition in longitudinal research: methods in tracing and securing cooperation in a 24-year follow-up study D. P. Farrington, B. Gallagher, L. Morley, R. J. St Ledger and D. J. West; 8. Minimising attrition in longitudinal studies: means or end? M. Murphy; 9. N's, times and number of variables in longitudinal research G. Rudinger and P. K. Wood; 10. Stability of patterns and patterns of stability in personality development J. B. Asendorpf and F. E. Weinert; 11. Beyond correlations: from group data analyses to single case studies F. Schulsinger; 12. Age, period, and cohort in the study of the life course: a comparison of classical A-P-C-analysis with event history analysis or farewell to lexis? K. U. Mayer and J. Huinink; 13. New possibilities for longitudinal studies of intergenerational factors in child health and development J. Fox and K. Fogelman; 14. Archiving longitudinal data A. Colby and E. Phelps.

Editorial Reviews

"...focuses attention on issues that affect the integrity of longitudinal data and research, and it does so in a manner that will be clear to the reader, regardless of that reader's level of sophistication. As such, this volume is an important and welcome addition to the literature." American Scientist

"This work presents a series of thoughtful discussions about the longitudinal study of development. The chapters represent the concerns of a variety of disciplines, (e.g., psychiatry, psychology, sociology, and epidemiology). Since the authors are multinational, the effort draws on the experience of a number of researchers involved in a range of national longitudinal studies. The effect of this diversity of fields and national traditions with a common focus on quality of data in longitudinal study is a collection of chapters that are intrinsically interesting. The overlap of issues across traditions and subjects allows the the chapters to fit together very well and illustrates how solutions to common issues are reached via different paths....This book as a whole is quite good." Book Forum

"...a very useful volume. It does indeed offer discussions of a range of issues that should allow longitudinal researchers to judge the quality of their and others' data—to determine if the emperor is wearing any clothes. As such it should be useful to current and potential longitudinal researchers of human development. It is also a volume that should be recommended to students of human development and could therefore be used in graduate courses on research methods." Lonnie R. Sherrod, Contemporary Psychology

From the Publisher