Measurement in Intensive Longitudinal Data

Technological advances have increased the prevalence of intensive longitudinal data as well as statistical techniques appropriate for these data, such as dynamic structural equation modeling (DSEM). Intensive longitudinal designs often investigate constructs related to affect or mood and do so with multiple item scales. However, applications of intensive longitudinal methods often rely on simple sums or averages of the administered items rather than considering a proper measurement model. This paper demonstrates how to incorporate measurement models into DSEM to (1) provide more rigorous measurement of constructs used in intensive longitudinal studies and (2) assess whether scales are invariant across time and across people, which is not possible when item responses are summed or averaged. We provide an example from an ecological momentary assessment study on self-regulation in adults with binge eating disorder and walkthrough how to fit the model in Mplus and how to interpret the results.

The Use of the Intensive Longitudinal Methods to Study Financial Well-Being: A Scoping Review and Future Research Agenda

Financial well-being is a positive financial condition that has an objective (e.g., income) and a subjective (e.g., financial satisfaction) side. Much research has examined financial well-being using cross-sectional and classic longitudinal designs. More recently, researchers have begun to examine financial well-being using intensive longitudinal designs, collecting data in a repeated (at least five measurements) and intensive (short time interval between measurements) way. The goal of the current study was to systematically review all published research on financial well-being using intensive longitudinal methods, summarize themes from this work, and suggest future research directions. Searching three databases (Scopus, PsycINFO, Econpapers), we found nine articles that respected inclusion and exclusion criteria. From each selected article, we extracted information about (1) research field diffusion, (2) data collection methods, (3) financial well-being’s definition and operationalization, (4) research questions addressed and (5) data analysis. Findings showed that most of the studies adopted an interval-contingent research design, collecting data once a day; that both the objective and subjective sides of the construct were assessed, and that, most of the time, the construct was conceptualized as financial stress (lack of financial well-being). Different kinds of research questions were addressed across studies and these were often analyzed using multilevel analysis. In the discussion section, future research directions are suggested.

Me, the Moment, or the Medium? Understanding the Sources of Variation for Students’ Situational Engagement in Science

Although multiple theoretical traditions consider motivation, engagement, and learning as dynamic, these processes are often measured in more-or-less static ways in research. The study of student engagement exemplifies this mismatch well: Situational engagement is defined as context-sensitive, multi-dimensional, and dependent on momenyary factors such as teaching practices and peer influences. Yet, situational engagement is often studied using single time-point surveys, which can prevent researchers from examining the variation in situational engagement within person and across contexts that is presumed to exist. Our purpose in this study is to determine the extent to which students’ situational engagement (across cognitive, behavioral, and affective) varies at the situational, individual student, and classroom levels. To do so, we use intensive longitudinal methods and three extant datasets comprising 12,244 reports from 1,173 youth who were students in science classrooms. Our findings, at which we arrived using multivariate, mixed effects models, show that the greatest source of variation for situational engagement was attributable to individual students. Situational and classroom-related sources of variation were smaller, but still substantial. There were differences across the three dimensions of situational engagement, such that affective situational engagement was associated with greater variation at the situational level, cognitive engagement was associated with greater individual student variability, while behavioral engagement was positioned between the affective and cognitive dimensions with respect to its situational and individual variation. We discuss implications for modeling situations in studies utilizing intensive longitudinal methods.

Subjectifying the Personality State: Theoretical Underpinnings and an Empirical Example

Recent developments in personality research highlight the value of modelling dynamic state–like manifestations of personality. The present work integrates these developments with prominent clinical models addressing within–person multiplicity and promotes the exploration of models centred on state–like manifestations of personality that function as cohesive organizational units. Such units possess distinct subjective qualities and are characterized by specific affects, behaviours, cognitions, and desires that tend to be co–activated. As background, we review both theory and research from the fields of social cognition, psychotherapy, and psychopathology that serve as the foundation for such models. We then illustrate our ideas in greater detail with one well–supported clinical model—the schema therapy mode model, chosen because it provides a finite and definite set of modes (i.e. cohesive personality states). We assessed these modes using a newly developed experience–sampling measure administered to 52 individuals (four times daily for 15 days). We estimated intraindividual and group–level temporal and contemporaneous networks based on the within–person variance as well as between–person network. We discuss findings from exemplar participants and from group–level networks and address cross–model particularities and consistencies. In conclusion, we consider potential idiographic and nomothetic applications of subjective states dynamic personality research based on intensive longitudinal methods. © 2020 European Association of Personality Psychology

Subjectifying the personality state: Theoretical underpinnings and an empirical example

Recent developments in personality research highlight the value of modeling dynamic state-like manifestations of personality. The present work integrates these developments with prominent clinical models addressing within-person multiplicity and promotes the exploration of models centered on state-like manifestations of personality that function as cohesive organizational units. Such units possess distinct subjective qualities, and are characterized by specific affects, behaviors, cognitions, and desires that tend to be co-activated. As background, we review both theory and research from the fields of social cognition, psychotherapy, and psychopathology that serve as the foundation for such models. We then illustrate our ideas in greater detail with one well-supported clinical model – the schema therapy mode model, chosen because it provides a finite and definite set of modes (i.e., cohesive personality states). We assessed these modes using a newly-developed experience-sampling measure administered to fifty-two individuals (four times daily for fifteen days). We estimated intraindividual and group-level temporal and contemporaneous networks based on the within-person variance as well a between-person network. We discuss findings from exemplar participants and from group-level networks, and address cross-model particularities and consistencies. In concluding, we consider potential idiographic and nomothetic applications of subjective states dynamic personality research based on intensive longitudinal methods.