Longitudinal Research of Motor Development - The Possibility of Applying Different Statistical Methods

Abstract

Motor development is a very complex process and two research designs are generally used to study it. These are cross-sectional studies and longitudinal studies. Longitudinal researches are very important because they allow us to identify cause and effect relationships between various factors that influence development. Also, by applying such designs, we discover the dynamics of the complexity of those relationships. This paper analyzes longitudinal researches of motor development with a focus on the application of different statistical methods in these studies. Partial research and the use of a statistical method without multifactorial data analysis are not sufficient to define the specificities and factors of motor development in children of typical development and in children with developmental disabilities. The choice of research design, along with the selection of adequate statistical methods and techniques for data processing, are of the exceptional importance, because this will produce valid results.