Conventional and Piecewise Growth Modeling Techniques: Applications and Implications for Investigating Head Start Children’s Early Literacy Learning Annemarie H. Hindman 1 , Jennifer G. Cromley 1 , Lori E. Skibbe 2 , and Alison L. Miller 3 Abstract This article reviews the mechanics of conventional and piecewise growth models to demonstrate the unique affordances of each technique for examining the nature and predictors of children’s early literacy learning during the transition from preschool through first grade. Using the 1 Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, USA 2 Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA 3 University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA Corresponding Author: Annemarie H. Hindman, 1301 Cecil B. Moore Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19122, USA Email: ahindman@temple.edu Evaluation Review 35(3) 204-239 ª The Author(s) 2011 Reprints and permission: sagepub.com/journalsPermissions.nav DOI: 10.1177/0193841X11412068 http://erx.sagepub.com by guest on April 12, 2016 erx.sagepub.com Downloaded from