Longitudinal data is necessary to properly investigate changes in human health. This introductory workshop will provide a theoretical and conceptual overview of longitudinal research. The content will be pitched for a general audience, and will:

1. define longitudinal research and introduce different types of change
2. show why cross-sectional designs are inadequate for research questions concerning change and discuss questions that can only be answered by longitudinal analysis
3. outline important  features of longitudinal study designs and discuss their limitations.

This will be the first of three sessions on longitudinal data analysis for ACT health. The second and third workshops will have a more technical focus, covering statistical methods and applications of longitudinal data analysis.

About the facilitator

Dr Kim Kiely is an NHMRC Fellow with over 10-years of experience working with longitudinal data and conducting ageing research.