Chapter 2 - Methodological Considerations for the Study of Adult Development and Aging

Abstract

This chapter explores key methodological and analytical considerations for the study of adult development and aging. In particular, we focus on central themes that are routinely encountered in conducting current aging research. We address a range of topics, from design selection and sampling considerations (including novel developmental research designs) to key considerations regarding missing data as well as the impact of attrition and retest on statistical parameter estimates. Given recent advances in research design and statistical modeling of developmental phenomena and their application to the study of the psychology of aging, we overview several analytic procedures and approaches that help to efficiently characterize aging-related change for various phenomena. In particular, we summarize several models for measuring change, explore multivariate approaches for examining correlated and coupled change, as well as compare alternative metrics for parameterizing developmental time. Finally, we conclude by highlighting emerging methodological trends in the study of adult development and aging, including recent emphasis on integrated data analysis and harmonization, as well as adopting an intraindividual variability approach for informing dynamic aging-related processes.