Modelling the development of language and mathematics abilities from early childhood to adolescence

Abstract

This chapter assesses what mattered most during the phases of human development. This is done by introducing a new approach, Latent Growth Modelling, which allows the analysis to go further by simultaneously evaluating multiple paths that affected children's development, over the five survey rounds, and deciding which were relatively more important. The model is applied to the Younger Cohort and the aim is to illustrate the operation of developmental cascades for changes in receptive vocabulary and mathematics abilities. These models are especially suitable in the case of Young Lives because they bring together 15 years of longitudinal evidence and are tested across the four study countries. The chapter then uses the findings both from the earlier chapters and the modelling presented here to lay out a positive developmental cascade for transitions to adulthood. This provides a framework for action based on Young Lives data, regarding what mattered most and when.