This essay considers progress in understanding adult development in the study of
behaviour during the 20th century. It describes the influence of methodological
advances including paradigmatic shifts from cross-sectional to longitudinal studies,
advances in measurement, the impact of confirmatory factor analysis, and
consideration of age as the dependent variable. A theoretical framework for
understanding adult cognitive development is presented. Different types of
longitudinal studies, the issue of structural invariance across age, sources of
individual differences and the impact of cohort differences are discussed. Finally
projections are made for future research.
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