The trait-state-error model for multiwave data.
Although researchers in clinical psychology routinely gather data in which many individuals respond at multiple times, there is not a standard way to analyze such data. A new approach for the analysis of such data is described. It is proposed that a person's current standing on a variable is caused by 3 sources of variance: a term that does not change (trait), a term that changes (state), and a random term (error). It is shown how structural equation modeling can be used to estimate such a model. An extended example is presented in which the correlations between variables are quite different at the trait, state, and error levels.
Kenny
D A
DA
Department of Psychology, University of Connecticut, Storrs 06269-1020.
Zautra
A
A
D006801:Humans; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D011586:Psychology, Clinical; D012106:Research