Risky business: Correlation and causation in longitudinal studies of skill development.

ABSTRACT: Developmental theories often posit that changes in children's early psychological characteristics will affect much later psychological, social, and economic outcomes. However, tests of these theories frequently yield results that are consistent with plausible alternative theories that posit a much smaller causal role for earlier levels of these psychological characteristics. Our article explores this issue with empirical tests of skill-building theories, which predict that early boosts to simpler skills (e.g., numeracy or literacy) or behaviors (e.g., antisocial behavior or executive functions) support the long-term development of more sophisticated skills or behaviors. Substantial longitudinal associations between academic or socioemotional skills measured early and then later in childhoo

SUBMITTER: Bailey DH 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5776753 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature