The Promise and Challenges of Integrating Multiple Time-Scales in Adult Developmental Inquiry

Abstract

This special issue compiles a series of articles that highlight endeavors to integrate research traditions studying within-person change across years (developmental macro time) and shorter-term within-person processes (micro time). This introduction provides the rationale behind this series, discusses what may be learned from these empirical inquiries, and outlines promises and challenges of these lines of research. We advocate for (a) a conceptual integration of mechanisms linking developmental phenomena across multiple time-scales, (b) theory-based design and sampling plans, and (c) taking into account contextual factors. We conclude that multiple time-scale inquiry provides a toolbox to better understand the human development across adulthood.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Denis Gerstorf

Denis Gestorf is at the Institute of Psychology, Humboldt University, Christiane A. Hoppmann is in the Department of Psychology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada, and Nilam Ram is in the Department of Human Development and Family Studies, Pennsylvania State University and the Max Planck Institute for Human Development, Berlin, Germany.

Christiane A. Hoppmann

Denis Gestorf is at the Institute of Psychology, Humboldt University, Christiane A. Hoppmann is in the Department of Psychology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada, and Nilam Ram is in the Department of Human Development and Family Studies, Pennsylvania State University and the Max Planck Institute for Human Development, Berlin, Germany.

Nilam Ram

Denis Gestorf is at the Institute of Psychology, Humboldt University, Christiane A. Hoppmann is in the Department of Psychology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada, and Nilam Ram is in the Department of Human Development and Family Studies, Pennsylvania State University and the Max Planck Institute for Human Development, Berlin, Germany.