Patrick J. Curran, Ph.D.

Professor
Director of L.L.Thurstone Psychometric Laboratory
Department of Psychology
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Contact Information:
Email: curran@unc.edu
Website: http://curran.web.unc.edu/

Research Interests & Goals:
Patrick Curran is a Professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Dr. Curran’s program of research is focused on the integration of longitudinal statistical methodology and the study of high risk child and adolescent development. Quantitative methodology interests include the development and application of new longitudinal statistical models to study individual differences in change over time, with a particular focus on latent variable models of growth. Substantive developmental interests include the study of individual differences in factors associated with children and adolescents who are at risk for experiencing developmental problems, particularly substance use and conduct problems. Recent work has included the development of new methods for testing and probing interactions in latent variable growth models, the simultaneous estimation of autoregressive and random growth processes in longitudinal models of change, and the use of computer simulation methodology to evaluate the fit of structural equation models.