This dissertation investigated the use of various techniques in modeling non-linear change in the context of latent growth modeling. A simulation study was conducted utilizing four between subjects factors: sample size (50, 75, 100, 150, 200, 300 and 500), slope variance (.15, .45 and .75), factor correlation (.15, .45 and .75) and growth curve (exponential, logarithmic and logistic). There was also a single within subjects factor: fit technique (quadratic, unspecified and spline). The outcomes of interest were the รท2 model fit statistic and the following goodness-of-fit indices: CFI, GFI, AGFI, SRMR and RMSEA. Results indicated the unspecified technique provided the best statistical estimates of model fit while the quadratic technique provided the worst. This result was consistent across all of the between subject factor conditions. The spline technique performed very similarly to the quadratic technique. These results suggest applied researchers should pay very close attention when utilizing polynomial techniques and should also strongly consider the unspecified technique as either the model of choice or as a comparison to results obtained for another model.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:PITT/oai:PITTETD:etd-07312007-173433 |
| Date | 27 September 2007 |
| Creators | Welch, Greg William |
| Contributors | Dr. Clement A. Stone, Dr. Suzanne Lane, Dr. Kevin H. Kim, Dr. Satish Iyengar |
| Publisher | University of Pittsburgh |
| Source Sets | University of Pittsburgh |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | text |
| Format | application/pdf |
| Source | http://etd.library.pitt.edu/ETD/available/etd-07312007-173433/ |
| Rights | unrestricted, I hereby certify that, if appropriate, I have obtained and attached hereto a written permission statement from the owner(s) of each third party copyrighted matter to be included in my thesis, dissertation, or project report, allowing distribution as specified below. I certify that the version I submitted is the same as that approved by my advisory committee. I hereby grant to University of Pittsburgh or its agents the non-exclusive license to archive and make accessible, under the conditions specified below, my thesis, dissertation, or project report in whole or in part in all forms of media, now or hereafter known. I retain all other ownership rights to the copyright of the thesis, dissertation or project report. I also retain the right to use in future works (such as articles or books) all or part of this thesis, dissertation, or project report. |
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