Person-Oriented Research Methods

The latest findings from person-oriented research. Research has shown that statements at the aggregate level rarely apply at the level of smaller numbers of cases or individuals. The first tenet of person-oriented research is therefore that structure and development of behavior are, at least in part, specific to the individual. While aggregate-level statements may be correct, they cover only that portion of the overall variability that is shared by the aggregate. Larger, and more important portions of variability may remain unexplained. This volume therefore: 1. Provides an overview of theoretical and methodological developments of person-oriented research. 2. Presents recent and new developments in the domain of statistical analysis of data from a person-oriented perspective. 3. Presents empirical sample cases in which methodological implications of the relationship between aggregate-level and person-oriented research are defined and illustrated.