Andrea Hasl, Manuel Voelkle, Charles Driver, Julia Kretschmann, Martin Brunner
{"title":"Leveraging Observation Timing Variability to Understand Intervention Effects in Panel Studies: An Empirical Illustration and Simulation Study","authors":"Andrea Hasl, Manuel Voelkle, Charles Driver, Julia Kretschmann, Martin Brunner","doi":"10.1080/10705511.2023.2224515","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<p><b>Abstract</b></p><p>To examine developmental processes, intervention effects, or both, longitudinal studies often aim to include measurement intervals that are equally spaced for all participants. In reality, however, this goal is hardly ever met. Although different approaches have been proposed to deal with this issue, few studies have investigated the potential benefits of individual variation in time intervals. In the present paper, we examine how continuous time dynamic models can be used to study nonexperimental intervention effects in longitudinal studies where measurement intervals vary between and within participants. We empirically illustrate this method by using panel data (<i>N</i> = 2,877) to study the effect of the transition from primary to secondary school on students’ motivation. Results of a simulation study also show that the precision and recovery of the estimate of the effect improves with individual variation in time intervals.</p>","PeriodicalId":21964,"journal":{"name":"Structural Equation Modeling: A Multidisciplinary Journal","volume":"86 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.5000,"publicationDate":"2023-07-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"1","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Structural Equation Modeling: A Multidisciplinary Journal","FirstCategoryId":"102","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1080/10705511.2023.2224515","RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q2","JCRName":"MATHEMATICS, INTERDISCIPLINARY APPLICATIONS","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 1
Abstract
To examine developmental processes, intervention effects, or both, longitudinal studies often aim to include measurement intervals that are equally spaced for all participants. In reality, however, this goal is hardly ever met. Although different approaches have been proposed to deal with this issue, few studies have investigated the potential benefits of individual variation in time intervals. In the present paper, we examine how continuous time dynamic models can be used to study nonexperimental intervention effects in longitudinal studies where measurement intervals vary between and within participants. We empirically illustrate this method by using panel data (N = 2,877) to study the effect of the transition from primary to secondary school on students’ motivation. Results of a simulation study also show that the precision and recovery of the estimate of the effect improves with individual variation in time intervals.
期刊介绍:
Structural Equation Modeling: A Multidisciplinary Journal publishes refereed scholarly work from all academic disciplines interested in structural equation modeling. These disciplines include, but are not limited to, psychology, medicine, sociology, education, political science, economics, management, and business/marketing. Theoretical articles address new developments; applied articles deal with innovative structural equation modeling applications; the Teacher’s Corner provides instructional modules on aspects of structural equation modeling; book and software reviews examine new modeling information and techniques; and advertising alerts readers to new products. Comments on technical or substantive issues addressed in articles or reviews published in the journal are encouraged; comments are reviewed, and authors of the original works are invited to respond.