Growth mixture modeling (GMM) has become a more popular statistical method for modeling population heterogeneity in longitudinal data, but the performance characteristics of GMM enumeration indexes in correctly identifying heterogeneous growth trajectories are largely unknown. Few empirical studies have addressed this issue. This study considered…

In research concerning model invariance across populations, researchers have discussed the limitations of the conventional chi-square difference test ([Delta] chi-square test). There have been some research efforts in using goodness-of-fit indexes (i.e., [Delta]goodness-of-fit indexes) for assessing multisample model invariance, and some specific…

This article illustrates the use of the SAS system for Monte Carlo simulation work in structural equation modeling (SEM). Data generation procedures for both multivariate normal and nonnormal conditions are discussed, and relevant SAS codes for implementing these procedures are presented. A hypothetical example is presented in which Monte Carlo…

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the robustness of estimated growth curve models when there is stationary autocorrelation among manifest variable errors. The results suggest that when, in practice, growth curve models are fitted to longitudinal data, alternative rival hypotheses to consider would include growth models that also specify…