Instructions: To complete this assignment, you’ll need to also download another article, by Scott et al. (2007), and examine it alongside Bonanno et al. (2004). The Scott et al. (2007) article is available in today’s module. You’re welcome (and encouraged!) to read the entire Scott et al. (2007) article, but for this activity, you only need to be familiar with and work from the plots contained in Figures 1-4 (pp. 255-258). In order to understand these plots, make sure you use the skills you’ve developed this semester – read and understand the x- and y-axes, the figure titles and notes, and read the method section (especially the participants and measures). Our big questions in this activity are: (1) What happens in between the time points Bonanno and colleagues (2004) studied? (2) What patterns of response do we see for outcomes (Y variables) other than those that Bonanno and colleagues (2004) studied?
How do these patterns look different or similar to those Bonanno and colleagues found? Comment on and discuss at least one of the following: Shape or Axes. You’re welcome to comment on other differences.
Explain why you think there are differences in the figures in the handout compared to Bonanno and colleagues (2004). Be specific – what is different about them? How could you talk someone who hasn’t read Bonanno et al. or Scott et al. through the differences and what these figures tell the reader?
Categorize the data – how would you group the trajectories? Use as many groups as is necessary for your categorization.
Label (give a name describing the typical pattern) each of the groups you identify & list the IDs associated with each group.
How do these groups differ from each other? Be specific. Again, how could you explain your categorizations to someone who hasn’t read Bonanno et al. or Scott et al. or taken this class?
What other data (information) would you like to have in order to better understand these trajectories? Check the Scott et al. article – is this information provided there? If so, report which page you found it on. If not, be very specific about what information would help you.
