ERIC Number: EJ956143
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2011-Dec
Pages: 15
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1082-989X
EISSN: N/A
Available Date: N/A
Sample Size Planning for Longitudinal Models: Accuracy in Parameter Estimation for Polynomial Change Parameters
Kelley, Ken; Rausch, Joseph R.
Psychological Methods, v16 n4 p391-405 Dec 2011
Longitudinal studies are necessary to examine individual change over time, with group status often being an important variable in explaining some individual differences in change. Although sample size planning for longitudinal studies has focused on statistical power, recent calls for effect sizes and their corresponding confidence intervals underscore the importance of obtaining sufficiently accurate estimates of group differences in change. We derived expressions that allow researchers to plan sample size to achieve the desired confidence interval width for group differences in change for orthogonal polynomial change parameters. The approaches developed provide the expected confidence interval width to be sufficiently narrow, with an extension that allows some specified degree of assurance (e.g., 99%) that the confidence interval will be sufficiently narrow. We make computer routines freely available, so that the methods developed can be used by researchers immediately. (Contains 12 footnotes and 4 tables.)
Descriptors: Intervals, Sample Size, Effect Size, Longitudinal Studies, Researchers, Computation, Individual Differences, Comparative Analysis, Computers, Computer Uses in Education, Models, Antisocial Behavior, Group Dynamics, Adolescents, Adults
American Psychological Association. Journals Department, 750 First Street NE, Washington, DC 20002-4242. Tel: 800-374-2721; Tel: 202-336-5510; Fax: 202-336-5502; e-mail: order@apa.org; Web site: http://www.apa.org/publications
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Descriptive
Education Level: Adult Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
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Authoring Institution: N/A
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Author Affiliations: N/A