Person‐Centered Analysis
Title
Person‐Centered Analysis
Author
Von Eye, Alexander
Wiedermann, Wolfgang
Research Area
Methods of Research
Topic
Research Methods ‐ Quantitative
Abstract
The majority of data analyses in the empirical sciences that are concerned with humans proceeds at the level of variables. Typical results relate variables to each other, for example, in correlational or regression‐type statements. In these analyses, individuals are considered random data carriers, replaceable without damage by other individuals, also random data carriers. This type of research is known as variable‐oriented. It has been shown that statements at the aggregate level, that is, variable‐oriented statements, are rarely applicable to the individual case. In contrast, person‐oriented research, also known as person‐centered research, proposes focusing on the individual. Analyses in person‐oriented research differ from procedures that are customary in variable‐oriented research. In person‐oriented research, parameters are estimated first at the level of the individual. If generalization is the goal of analysis, aggregation takes place at the level of parameters instead of raw data. Implications of this strategy are major. Data need to be collected in a way different than in variable‐oriented research, data analysis is different, and the resulting statements are different as well. This article introduces readers to person‐oriented research and gives two examples of person‐oriented data analysis, that is, configural frequency analysis and item response modeling.