Title: Multivariate Applications In Substance Use Research
Description: This edited volume introduces the latest advances in quantitative methods and illustrates ways to apply these methods to important questions in substance use research. The goal is to provide a forum for dialogue between methodologists developing innovative multivariate statistical methods and substance use researchers who have produced rich data sets.

This innovative volume:

-introduces the use of latent curve methods for describing individual trajectories of adolescent substance use over time;
-explores methods for analyzing longitudinal data for individuals nested within groups, such as families, classrooms, and treatment groups;
-demonstrates how different patterns of missing data influence the interpretation of results;
-reports on some recent advances in longitudinal growth modeling;
-illustrates methods to assess mediation when there are multiple mediating pathways underlying an intervention effect;
-describes methods to identify moderating relations in structural equation models;
-demonstrates the use of structural equation models to evaluate a preventive intervention;
-applies epidemic modeling techniques to understand the spread of substance use in society;
-illustrates the use of latent transition analysis to model substance use as a series of stages; and
-applies logistic regression to prospectively predict smoking cessation.
Subjects: Multivariate analysis, Experimental design, Analysis of variance, Mathematical biology, Regression analysis, Structural equation modeling, Substance abuse, Statistical methods, Research, Longitudinal studies