Categorical Variables in Developmental Research provides developmental researchers with the basic tools for understanding how to utilize categorical variables in their data analysis. Covering the measurement of individual differences in growth rates, the measurement of stage transitions, latent class and log-linear models, chi-square, and more, the book provides a means for developmental researchers to make use of categorical data.- Measurement and repeated observations of categorical data- Catastrophe theory- Latent class and log-linear models- Applications