Formal Methods in Lifespan Psychology
Since its foundation by the late Paul B. Baltes in 1981, the Center for Lifespan Psychology has sought to promote conceptual and methodological innovation within developmental psychology and in interdisciplinary context. Over the years, the critical examination of relations among theory, method, and data has evolved into a distinct feature of the Center. The Formal Methods project continues this tradition, with an emphasis on computer algebra and machine learning. Its main goals are to:
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critically examine the link between theory and data provided by existing statistical methods and
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equip researchers with means for optimizing the efficiency of data acquisition and data analysis.
The project uses the generality of Structural Equation Models (SEMs) to represent both methods and study designs, and statistical power as a metric to compare design features.
Team
Timo von Oertzen (adjunct scientist)
Timothy Brick (postdoctoral fellow)
Key References
Voelkle, M. C., Oud, J. H. L., von Oertzen, T., & Lindenberger, U. (in press). Maximum likelihood dynamic factor modeling for arbitrary N and T using SEM. Structural Equation Modeling: A Multidisciplinary Journal.
Voelkle, M. C., & Oud, J. H. L. (2012). Continuous time modelling with individually varying time intervals for oscillating and non-oscillating processes. British Journal of Mathematical and Statistical Psychology. doi: 10.1111/j.2044-8317.2012.02043.x
Voelkle, M. C., Oud, J. H. L., Davidov, E., & Schmidt, P. (2012). An SEM approach to continuous time modeling of panel data: relating authoritarianism and anomia. Psychological Methods. doi: 10.1037/a0027543
Oertzen, T. von (2010). Power equivalence in structural equation modeling. British Journal of Mathematical and Statistical Psychology, 63, 257–272. doi: 10.1348/000711009X441021
Oertzen, T. von, & Boker, S. M. (2010). Time delay embedding increases estimation precision of models of intraindividual variability. Psychometrika, 75, 158–175. doi: 10.1007/s11336-009-9137-9