Applications of multidimensional scaling profile analysis in developmental research: An example using adolescent irritability patterns

Many statistical models have been used to study human development. The multidimensional scaling (MDS) method has been an under-utilised technique in psychological and educational research for studying such phenomena. In this paper, MDS profile analysis was used to examine adolescent mood change patterns over a 1-week period. This method is used to empirically determine different change profiles among adolescents, and to describe how they differ with respect to these change patterns. In addition, the associations between the change profiles and a set of background variables can be studied. Data on irritability-cheerfulness swing among adolescents were analysed to demonstrate the procedures. The results were discussed in the context of adolescent development.