Master Longitudinal Data

Learn how to clean, model, and visualise change over time with expert guidance, practical tools, and real-world data.

Visualising patterns for longitudinal data

Testimonials

Analysing longitudinal data is challenging… no other book compiles the relevant topics in such a pedagogical way… a must-read for both people new to longitudinal data analysis and those looking to improve their existing knowledge.

Kim Backström, PhD student, Åbo Akademi, Finland

What I really liked about the book was how unique it was… accessible… excellent, particularly around multi-level modelling.

Emily Lowthian, Lecturer in Education, Swansea University

This book perfectly replicates [Dr. Cernat’s] teaching style… an incredibly useful resource… for longitudinal measurement invariance tests and structural equation models in R.

Benedict Hignell, PhD Student, University of Essex

I had a longitudinal dataset that was ideal for answering an important research question in my field, but I had no experience with longitudinal analyses. After reading this book, I felt confident enough to run the analyses myself. The paper is now ready to be submitted. I was honestly surprised that a book could help someone with zero background in longitudinal analysis do complex analyses for a real research project.

Omid Ghasemi, Postdoctoral Research Associate, University of New South Wales

Thoroughly recommend anything taught by Alex.

Michelle Degli Esposti, Postdoctoral Researcher, University of Oxford

I owe Alex’s 2018 course my ‘re-birth’ as an R data manager and analyst.

Teresio Poggio, Research Assistant, University of Trento

Alexandru Cernat is the best quantitative analysis teacher I have experienced… I feel my knowledge on mediation analysis has grown substantially, and the practicals accompanying the lectures are really useful.

Anonymous course evaluation

This is one of the best courses I have ever attended.

Anonymous course evaluation

…the best course I have been on since starting my PhD.

Anonymous course evaluation

Author & Platform Creator

I’m Alex Cernat, Professor of Methodology and Social Data Science at the University of Manchester, specialising in collecting and analysing longitudinal data.

Over the past decade, I’ve published over 50 papers and book chapters using advanced models to study how people and societies change.

This website combines everything I’ve learned to offer you practical tools, real-world examples, and clear explanations for mastering longitudinal data.

Learn more

explanation of key concepts in longitudinal data like attrition, balanced and unbalanced data

Understand Longitudinal Data Without the Jargon

Clear explanations, visual examples, and step-by-step guides to help you master the basics.

creating dynamic document using rmarkdown

Get Practical with Code for Longitudinal Models

Ready-to-use code, real-world examples, and tutorials to learn how to use software efficiently.

correcting for measurement error using second order latent growth models

Apply the Right Models to Solve Real-World Problems

Guidance for real-world challenges like model selection, missing data and measurement error.

Longitudinal Data Analysis Using R

The book covers all the key skills needed to prepare, explore, and analyse longitudinal data. It interweaves explanations of key concepts, statistical modelling, code and visualisations using real-world data.

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Sample chapter