OPPORTUNITIES AND DIFFICULTIES IN LONG-TERM STUDIES OF GROWTH

Overviews are presented of the University of Melbourne Child Growth St udy and of the Fels Longitudinal Study; each of these studies had a ma jor focus on the growth and maturation of children. Planning, study de sign, logistics and staffing varied between these studies, but each le d to exciting research opportunities that can exist only when longitud inal data are available. There are important differences between these studies in the types of participants, ages at examinations, the varia bles measured, some topics of central concern, and in funding. In each study, research productivity was low in the early years, the retentio n of participants was a major concern, and it was necessary to maintai n a balance between data collection, data management, and data analysi s. More such studies are needed that focus on particular population gr oups and topic areas and that utilize the lessons of the past to maxim ize the chances of future success.