Nonlinear Growth Curves in Developmental Research

• DOI: 10.1111/j.1467-8624.2011.01630.x
• Publication Date: 2011-08-08T19:43:31Z
• Authors: Kevin J. Grimm; Nilam Ram; Fumiaki Hamagami
• Keywords: Growth curve (statistics); Linear growth; Nonlinear model; Latent growth modeling; Child Development

Developmentalists are often interested in understanding change processes, and growth models the most common analytic tool for examining such processes. Nonlinear curves especially valuable to developmentalists because defining characteristics of process as initial levels, rates during spurts, asymptotic levels can be estimated. A variety described beginning with linear model moving nonlinear varying complexity. detailed discussion is provided, highlighting added insights into complex developmental processes associated their use. collection fit repeated measures height from participants Berkeley Growth Guidance Studies early childhood through adulthood.