Structural equations modeling in developmental research concepts and applications

This article discusses structural models for developmental research. First, it gives a brief overview of structural modeling using the well-known LISREL notation. Then, characteristics of well-fitting models are reviewed. These characteristics are presented with the goal in mind of presenting complete reports of structural models such that readers are enabled to derive their own conclusions concerning a model. The features of developmental models are discussed. Models are developmental in particular when some variation of time or age is central to the hypotheses under study. Data examples are presented from a study on the long-term effects of biological and social risks in infancy and early childhood. These examples suggest that performance in academic subjects in school at age 11 can be predicted based on information of early risks. The models are discussed with reference to the characteristics of well-fitting models.