Contemporary theories of adolescence stress developmental systems models that integrate both individual and contextual levels of analysis in a relational manner—ones that place substantive emphasis on understanding the diversity of adolescent development. This scholarship suggests that adolescence should be investigated with multivariate-longitudinal designs and change-sensitive measures and data analytic strategies—ones that capitalize on and seek triangulation across both quantitative and qualitative methods, for example as may be illustrated by current advances in categorical data analysis. Such research will inform in useful ways policies and programs aimed at promoting positive development among diverse youth; but it will require innovations in training if new cohorts of developmental scholars are to be proficient in both the basics and applied scientific dimensions of studying adolescence.
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