Two Methodological Perspectives on the Development of.pptVIP

Two Methodological Perspectives on the Development of Mathematical Competencies in Young Children: An Application of Continuous Categorical Latent Variable Modeling David Kaplan Heidi Sweetman University of Delaware Topics To Be Covered… Growth mixture modeling (including conventional growth curve modeling) Latent transition analysis A Substantive Example: Math Achievement ECLS-K Math Achievement in the U.S. Third International Mathematics Science Study (TIMMS) has led to increased interest in understanding how students develop mathematical competencies Advances in statistical methodologies such as structural equation modeling (SEM) and multilevel modeling now allow for more sophisticated analysis of math competency growth trajectories. Work by Jordan, Hanich Kaplan (2002) has begun to investigate the shape of early math achievement growth trajectories using these more advanced methodologies Early Childhood Longitudinal Study-Kindergarten (ECLS-K) Longitudinal study of children who began kindergarten in the fall of 1998 Study employed three stage probability sampling to obtain nationally representative sample Sample was freshened in first grade so it is nationally representative of the population of students who began first grade in fall 1999 Data Gathering for ECLS-K Data gathered on the entire sample: Fall kindergarten (fall 1998) Spring kindergarten (spring 1999) Spring first grade (spring 2000) Spring third grade (spring 2002) Additionally, 27% of cohort sub-sampled in fall of first grade (fall 1999) Initial sample included 22,666 students. Due to attrition, there are 13,698 with data across the four main time points Two Perspectives on Conventional Growth Curve Modeling The Multilevel Modeling Perspective Level 1 represents intra-individual differences in growth over time Time-varying predictors can be included at level 1 Level 1 parameters include individual intercepts and slopes that are modeled at level 2 Level 2 represents variation in