title: Three methods for studying developmental change: a case of reading skills and self-concept.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  First, to introduce and compare three statistical methods for investigating development as a cumulative process: a simplex model, latent growth curve analysis, and clustering by cases. Second, to investigate the developmental dynamics of reading skills, and self-concept of reading ability, across the first year of primary school.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred and five (61 boys, 44 girls) 6- to 7-year-old children from four first-grade classes in two primary schools participated in the study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Children were studied three times during their first school year using an identical set of measurements: a Reading Skills Test and the Self-Concept of Ability scale.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A uni-construct 'Matthew' effect was found for the development of self-concept, but not for the reading skills. However, the results showed that there was a multi-construct cumulative cycle between children's reading skills and their self-concept.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Simultaneous use of variable- and person-oriented methods in developmental research seems to be a valuable approach, which not only provides a proper way to investigate the cumulative developmental cycles but also an option to examine how large a proportion of the sample follows the positive and negative pattern found in variable-oriented analyses.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Jyväskylä, Finland. AUNOLA@PSYKA.JYU.FI
authors.forename: Kaisa
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Aunola
authors.forename: Esko
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Leskinen
authors.forename: Tiina
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Onatsu-Arvilommi
authors.forename: Jari-Erik
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Nurmi
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D002657:Child Development; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008960:Models, Psychological; D011932:Reading; D012649:Self Concept