Scientific Director and Senior Research Associate, The Methodology Center
Research Associate Professor, College of Health and Human Development
The Methodology Center
The Pennsylvania State University
204 E. Calder Way, Suite 400
State College, PA 16801
814-865-7095
Education
Ph.D., Penn State, 2003 (Human Development and Family Studies)
M.A.S., Penn State, 2002 (Applied Statistics)
M.S., Penn State, 1998 (Human Development and Family Studies)
B.S., University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 1992 (Mathematical Science)
B.A., University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 1992 (Psychology)
Research Interests
The majority of my work has focused on advancing finite mixture models, in particular latent class analysis. More recently, I have begun to focus on how modern methods for causal inference can be integrated into latent variable models. I also have a growing interest in statistical models that rely on intensive longitudinal data in order to reveal dynamic processes, such as recovery from drug addiction.
Current Projects and Collaborators
I am working on a research project to expand the types of research questions that can be addressed using finite mixture models. My collaborators on this project include Bethany Bray (Virginia Tech), Michael Cleveland, Brittany Rhoades, and Linda Collins. I also collaborate with Donna Coffman on several projects related to causal inference, and with Runze Li on work related to the time-varying effect model for intensive longitudinal data.
Recent Teaching
Spring 2011, Spring 2007, Spring 2009: Latent Class Analysis for Cross-Sectional and Repeated Measures Data. Penn State Department of Human Development and Family Studies.
Selected Grants
Current
Center for Prevention and Treatment Methodology
National Institute on Drug Abuse: P50-DA-10075
2010-2015; Role: Co-investigator, Software Development and Technology Transfer Core; Co-investigator, Advances in Finite Mixture Modeling for Substance Use and HIV Research (PI: Linda M. Collins)
Advancing Tobacco Research by Integrating Systems Science and Mixture Models
National Cancer Institute: R01 CA168676
2012-2015; Role: Principal Investigator
Drug Abuse and HIV Prevention Research Methodology Conferences
National Institute on Drug Abuse: R13 DA020334
2011-2016; Role: Principal Investigator
Honors and Awards
2012-present: Associate Editor, Prevention Science
2011: Ad-hoc Member, Review Panel for NIH SBIR Phase I Project – Improving Measures of Addiction Risk
2010: Ad-hoc Member, NIH Behavioral Genetics and Epidemiology (BGES) Study Section Review Panel
2008: Society for Prevention Research ECPN Early Career Award
2008: Board Member, Penn State Graduate School Alumni Society
2008: Ad-hoc Member, NIH Cutting-Edge Basic Research Awards (CEBRA) Review Council
2005-2007: Ad-hoc Member, NIH Community Influences on Health Behavior (CIHB) Study Section Review Panel
2001-2002: Kligman pre-doctoral fellow
Selected Publications
Books and Chapters
Lanza, S. T., Bray, B. C., & Collins, L. M. (2013). An introduction to latent class and latent transition analysis. In J. A. Schinka, W. F. Velicer, & I. B. Weiner (Eds.), Handbook of psychology (2nd ed.,Vol. 2, pp. 691-716). Hoboken, NJ: Wiley.
Collins, L. M., & Lanza, S. T., (2010). Latent class and latent transition analysis for the social, behavioral, and health sciences. New York: Wiley.
Lanza, S. T., & Collins, L. M. (2010). Modeling multidimensional sexual risk behavior using latent class analysis. In L. Passero & C. Sgariglia (Eds.), Sexual risk behaviors (pp. 119-124). Hauppauge, NY: Nova Science Publishers Inc.
Peer-Reviewed Articles
Lanza, S. T., Coffman, D. L., & Xu, S. (in press). Causal inference in latent class analysis. Structural Equation Modeling.
Landale, N. S., Lanza, S. T., Hillemeier, M. M., & Oropesa, R. S. (in press). Health and development of Mexican, black, and white preschool children: An integrative approach using latent class analysis. Demographic Research.
Lanza, S. T. & Rhoades, B. L. (2013). Latent class analysis: An alternative perspective on subgroup analysis in prevention and treatment. Prevention Science, 14, 157-168. PMCID: PMC3173585
Dziak, J. J., Lanza, S. T., & Tan, X. (in press). Effect size, statistical power and sample size requirements for the bootstrap likelihood ratio test in latent class analysis. Structural Equation Modeling.
Lanza, S. T., Tan, X., & Bray, B. C. (2013). Latent class analysis with distal outcomes: A flexible model-based approach. Structural Equation Modeling: A Multidisciplinary Journal, 20, 1-20. PMC Journal- In Process
Hillemeier, M. M., Lanza, S. T., Landale, N. S., & Opopesa, R. S. (2013). Measuring early childhood health and health disparities: A new approach. Maternal and Child Health Journal. Advance online publication. PMCID: PMC3615056 doi: 10.1007/s10995-012-1205-6
Cleveland, M. J., Lanza, S. T., Ray, A. E., Turrisi, R., & Mallett, K. M. (2012). Transitions in first-year college student drinking behaviors: Does drinking latent class membership moderate the effects of parent- and peer-based intervention components? Psychology of Addictive Behaviors, 26, 440-450. PMCID: PMC3413757
Shiyko, M. P., Lanza, S. T., Tan, X., Li, R., & Shiffman, S. (2012). Using the time-varying effect model (TVEM) to examine dynamic associations between negative affect and self confidence on smoking urges: Differences between successful quitters and relapsers. Prevention Science. PMCID: PMC3171604
Lanza, S. T., Kugler, K. C., & Mathur, C. (2011). Differential effects for sexual risk behavior: An application of finite mixture regression. The Open Family Studies Journal, 4(Supp11-M9), 81-88. PMCID: PMC3487167
Goodman, W. B., Crouter, A. C., Lanza, S. T., Cox, M. J., Vernon-Feagans, L., & The Family Life Project Key Investigators. (2011). Paternal work stress and latent profiles of father-infant parenting quality. Journal of Marriage and Family, 77(3), 588-604. PMCID: PMC3495607
Maldonado, M. M., & Lanza, S. T. (2011). A framework to examine gateway relations in drug use: An application of latent transition analysis. Journal of Drug Issues, 40(4), 901-924. PMCID: PMC3400537
Rhoades, B. L., Greenberg, M. T., Lanza, S. T., & Blair, C. (2011). Demographic and familial predictors of early executive function development: Contribution of a person-centered perspective. Journal of Experimental Child Psychology, 108(3), 638-662. PMCID: PMC3016464
Smith, R. A., & Lanza, S. T. (2011). Testing theoretical network classes and HIV-related correlates with latent class analysis. AIDS Care, 23, 1274-1281. doi: 10.1080/09540121.2011.555747 PMCID: PMC3181093
Lanza, S. T., Rhoades, B. L., Greenberg, M. T., Cox, M. J., & The Family Life Project Key Investigators. (2011). Modeling multiple risks during infancy: Contributions of a person-centered approach. Infant Behavior and Development, 34(3), 390-406. PMCID: PMC3134117
Bray, B. C., Lanza, S. T., & Collins, L. M. (2010). Modeling relations among discrete developmental processes: A general approach to associative latent transition analysis. Structural Equation Modeling, 17, 541-569. PMCID: PMC3094019
Cleveland, M. J., Collins, L. M., Lanza, S. T., Greenberg, M. T., & Feinberg, M. E. (2010). Does individual risk moderate the effect of contextual-level protective factors? A latent class analysis of substance use. Journal of Prevention and Intervention in the Community, 38(3), 213-228. PMCID: PMC2898733
Lanza, S. T., & Bray, B. C. (2010). Transitions in drug use among high-risk women: An application of latent class and latent transition analysis. Advances and Applications in Statistical Sciences, 3, 203-235. PMCID: PMC3171700
Lanza, S. T., Patrick, M. E., & Maggs, J. L. (2010). Latent transition analysis: Benefits of a latent variable approach to modeling transitions in substance use. Journal of Drug Issues, 40(1), 93-120. PMCID: PMC2909684
Lanza, S. T., Rhoades, B. L., Nix, R. L., Greenberg, M. T., & the Conduct Problems Prevention Research Group (2010). Modeling the interplay of multilevel risk factors for future academic and behavior problems: A person-centered approach. Development and Psychopathology, 22, 313-335. PMCID:PMC3005302
Lanza, S. T., Savage, J., & Birch, L. (2010). Identification and prediction of latent classes of weight loss strategies among women. Obesity, 18(4), 833-840. PMCID: PMC2847025
BeLue, R., Lanza, S. T., & Figaro, M. K. (2009). Lifestyle therapy changes and hypercholesterolemia: Identifying risk groups in a community sample of blacks and whites. Ethnicity & Disease, 19(2), 142-147. PMCID: PMC2786171
Chung, H., Lanza, S. T., & Loken, E. (2008). Latent transition analysis: Inference and estimation. Statistics in Medicine, 27, 1834-1854. PMCID: PMC18069720
Goodman, W. B., Crouter, A. C., Lanza, S. T., Cox, M. J., & The Family Life Project Key Investigators (2008). Paternal work characteristics and father-infant interaction quality in low-income, rural families. Journal of Marriage and Family, 70, 640-653. PMCID: PMC2791409
Lanza, S. T., & Collins, L. M. (2008). A new SAS procedure for latent transition analysis: Transitions in dating and sexual risk behavior. Developmental Psychology, 44(2), 446-456. PMCID: PMC2846549
Lanza, S. T., Collins, L. M., Lemmon, D. R., & Schafer, J. L. (2007). PROC LCA: A SAS procedure for latent class analysis.Structural Equation Modeling, 14(4), 671-694. PMCID: PMC2785099
Maldonado-Molina, M. M., Collins, L. M., Lanza, S. T., Prado, G., Ramirez, R. R., & Canino, G. (2007). Patterns of substance use onset among Hispanics in Puerto Rico and the United States. Addictive Behaviors, 32(10), 2432-2437. PMCID: PMC3001340
Lanza, S. T., & Collins, L. M. (2006). A mixture model of discontinuous development in heavy drinking from ages 18 to 30: The role of college enrollment. Journal of Studies on Alcohol, 67, 552-561.
Ridenour, T.A., Lanza, S.T., Donny, E.C., & Clark, D.B. (2006). Different lengths of times for progressions in adolescent substance involvement. Addictive Behaviors, 31, 962-983. PMCID: PMC1531690
Crouter, A. C., Lanza, S. T., Pirretti, A., Goodman, W. B., Neebe, E., & The Family Life Project Key Investigators. (2006). The O*Net jobs classification system: A primer for family researchers. Family Relations, 55, 461-472.
Lanza, S. T., Collins, L. M., Schafer, J. L., & Flaherty, B. P. (2005). Using data augmentation to obtain standard errors and conduct hypothesis tests in latent class and latent transition analysis. Psychological Methods, 10, 84-100.
Chung, H., Park, Y., & Lanza, S. T. (2005). Latent transition analysis with covariates: Pubertal timing and substance use behaviours in adolescent females. Statistics in Medicine, 24, 2895-2910.
NICHD Early Child Care Research Network (2005). Predicting individual differences in attention, memory and planning in first graders from experiences at home, child care, and school. Developmental Psychology, 41, 99-114.
Lanza, S. T., Donny, E., Collins, L. M., & Balster, R. (2004). Analyzing the acquisition of drug self-administration using growth curve models. Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 75, 11-21.
Donny, E., Lanza, S. T., Balster, R., Collins, L. M., Caggiula, A., & Rowell, P. P. (2004). Using growth models to relate acquisition of nicotine self-administration to break point and nicotine receptor binding. Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 75, 23-35.
NICHD Early Child Care Research Network (2004). Father’s and mother’s parenting behavior and beliefs as predictors of children’s social adjustment in the transition to school. Journal of Family Psychology, 18, 628-638.
Lanza, S. T., & Collins, L. M. (2002). Pubertal timing and the stages of substance use in females during early adolescence. Prevention Science, 3, 69-82.
Jacobs, J. E., Lanza, S. T., Osgood, D. W., Eccles, J. S., & Wigfield, A. (2002). Changes in children’s self-competence and values: Gender and domain differences across grades one through twelve. Child Development, 73, 509-527
Recent Software
LCA Distal SAS Macro (Version 2.0) [Software]. (2012). University Park: The Methodology Center, Penn State. Retrieved from http://methodology.psu.edu
Yang, J., Tan, X., Lanza, S. T., & Wagner, A. T. (2012). Lca distal SAS macro users' guide (Version 2.0). University Park: The Methodology Center, Penn State. Retrieved from http://methodology.psu.edu
LCA Bootstrap SAS Macro (Version 1.1.0) [Software]. (2011). University Park: The Methodology Center, Penn State. Retrieved from http://methodology.psu.edu
LCA Distal SAS Macro (Version 1.1.0) [Software]. (2011). University Park: The Methodology Center, Penn State. Retrieved from http://methodology.psu.edu
PROC LCA & PROC LTA (Version 1.2.7) [Software]. (2011). University Park: The Methodology Center, Penn State. Retrieved from http://methodology.psu.edu
SAS Graphics Macros for Latent Class Analysis (Version 1.0) [Software]. (2010). University Park: The Methodology Center, Penn State. Retrieved from http://methodology.psu.edu
Recent Presentations
Lanza, S. T. (2012, December). An Introduction to latent class analysis. Presented at A Taste of Methodology, University Park, PA.
Lanza, S. T., & Bray, B. C. (2012, October). Latent class analysis. Presented for Methods Work, Silver Spring, MD.
Lanza, S. T. (2012, July). Latent class analysis in sociological research. Invited workshop presented at the Center for Family and Demographic Research, Bowling Green, OH.
Vasilenko, S. A., Liu, X. Lanza, S. T., Piper, M. & Li, R. (2012, June). Smoking cessation fatigue and in relapsers and successful quitters using a time-varying effects model. In Vasilenko, S. A. (Chair), Uncovering the dynamics of smoking cessation processes: New approaches to analysis of ecological momentary assessment data. Presented at the 20th Annual Meeting of the Society for Prevention Research, Washington, DC.
Coffman, D. L., Savage-Williams, J., Xu, S., Lanza, S. T., & Birch, L. (2012, June). Do mothers’ eating behaviors cause daughters’ dieting? Drawing causal inferences from the Girls’ Needs study. In Stuart, E. A. (Chair), The use of propensity score for assessing mediation and moderation. Presented at the 20th Annual Meeting of the Society for Prevention Research, Washington, DC.
Rhoades, B. L., & Lanza, S. T. (2012, June). Who benefits most from Head Start? Using latent class moderation to examine differential treatment effects. In Lanza, S. T. (Chair), New approaches to differential effects: Moving beyond traditional moderation using mixture models. Presented at the 20th Annual Meeting of the Society for Prevention Research, Washington, DC.
Cleveland, M. J., Lanza, S. T., Ray, A., Turrisi, R., & Mallett, K. (2012, June). Using latent transition analysis to assess differential treatment effects: Results from a randomized controlled trial of first-year college students. In Lanza, S. T. (Chair), New approaches to differential effects: Moving beyond traditional moderation using mixture models. Paper presented at the Society for Prevention Research Annual Meetings, Washington, DC.
Lanza, S. T., Mathur, C., & Rhoades, B. L. (2012, June). Mixture regression modeling to explore differential effects of risk factors for adolescent delinquency. In Lanza, S. T. (Chair), New approaches to differential effects: Moving beyond traditional moderation using mixture models. Presented at the 20th Annual Meeting of the Society for Prevention Research, Washington, DC.
Butera, N., Lanza, S. T., & Coffman, D. L. (2012, June). Effect of early sexual debut on adolescent delinquency latent class membership. Poster presented at the 20th Annual Meeting of the Society for Prevention Research, Washington, DC.
Lanza, S. T. (2012, April). Introduction to latent class analysis for behavioral research. Preconference workshop presented at The Annual Meeting of the Society for Behavioral Medicine, New Orleans, LA.
Dziak, J. J., Li, R., Tan, X., Lanza, S. T., & Shiffman, S. (2012, March). Nonlinear latent class growth modeling of affect during smoking cessation. Poster presented at The Annual Meeting of the Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco, Houston, TX.
Lanza, S. T. (2012, March). A demonstration of the time-varying effect model (TVEM): The dynamic role of dependence on craving during quit attempts. Presented at The Annual Meeting of the Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco, Houston, TX.
Lanza, S. T., & Piper, M. E. (2012, March). New methods for advancing research on tobacco dependence. One-day workshop presented at The Annual Meeting of the Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco, Houston, TX.
Liu, X., Li, R., Lanza, S. T., Piper, M. E., & Vasilenko, S. A. (2012, March). Using TVEM to examine cessation fatigue in smoking cessation study—Differences between placebo and treatment groups. Poster presented at The Annual Meeting of the Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco, Houston, TX.
Vasilenko, S. A., Lanza, S. T., Liu, X., Piper, M. E., Yang, J., & Li, R. (2012, March). Time-Varying predictors of lapse after smoking cessation attempt. Poster presented at The Annual Meeting of the Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco, Houston, TX.
Yang, J., Tan, X., Li, R., & Lanza, S. T. (2012, March). Generalized time-varying effects models for intensive longitudinal data. Poster presented at The Annual Meeting of the Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco, Houston, TX.
Lanza, S. T. (2012, March). Make the most of your EMA data: An introduction to the time-varying effect model. Presented at the joint session of The Methodology Center and The Prevention Research Center, Penn State. University Park, PA.
Lanza, S. T. (2012, February). Causal inference in latent class analysis. Penn State Population Research Institute, University Park, PA.
Collins, L. M., & Lanza, S. T. (2012, February). Latent class analysis. Workshop presented for Methods Work, Pittsburgh, PA. Also presented October, 2011 for Methods Work, Washington, DC and August, 2011 for Methods Work, Atlanta, GA.
Bray, B., Lanza, S., & Tan, X. (2011, June). Classify-analyze approaches in latent class analysis: The importance of inclusive modeling. Paper presented at the Annual Meeting of Society for Prevention Research, Washington, DC.
Cleveland, M.J., Lanza, S. T., Ray, A., Turrisi, R., & Mallett, K. (2011, June). First-year college students’ drinking patterns: Does drinking latent class membership moderate parent- and peer-based intervention components? Poster presented at the 34th Annual Meeting of the Research Society on Alcoholism, Atlanta, GA.
Dziak, J. J., Huang, L., Tan, S., Lanza, S. T., Li, R., Collins, L., & Xu, S. (2011, June). Software advances from The Methodology Center at Penn State. Technology demonstration presented at the Annual Meeting of the Society for Prevention Research in, Washington, DC.
Dziak, J., Lanza, S., & Li, R. (2011, June). Sensitivity and specificity of information criteria for model selection in prevention and psychology datasets. Poster presented at the Annual Meeting of the Society for Prevention Research, Washington, DC.
Lanza, S., Coffman, D., Xu, S., & Almirall, D. (2011, June). Causal Inference in latent class analysis. Paper presented at the Annual Meeting of the Society for Prevention Research, Washington, DC.
Lanza, S., Tan, X., & Li, R. (2011, June). Joint modeling of HIV disease course and survival: Effects of alcohol, tobacco, and drug use. Paper presented at the Annual Meeting of the Society for Prevention Research, Washington, DC.
Maldonado-Molina, M. M., Tan, X., Lanza, S., & Wagenaar, A., (2011, June). Effects of beer volume tax on alcohol-related mortality in 26 states from 1969 to 2004: An application of a varying effects model. Paper presented at the Annual Meeting of the Society for Prevention Research, Washington, DC.
Mathur, C., Stigler, M. H., Erickson, D. J., Lanza, S. T., Perry, C. L., Arora, M., & Reddy, K. S. (2011, June). Socioeconomic differentials in stages of tobacco acquisition among adolescents in India. Poster presented at the Annual Meeting of the Society for Prevention Research, Washington, DC.
Shiyko, M., Lanza, S., Tan, X., Shiffman, S., & Li, R. (2011, June). Between-group differences in temporal dynamics of negative affect, self-confidence, and smoking urges in short-term successful quitters and relapsers: Applications of the model with varying effects (MOVE). Paper presented at the Annual Meeting of the Society for Prevention Research, Washington, DC.
Tan, X., Lanza, S., & Bray, B., (2011, June). Latent class analysis with a distal outcome: Traditional and new approaches. Paper presented at the Annual Meeting of the Society for Prevention Research, Washington, DC.
Moore, J. E., Coffman, D., & Lanza, S. T. (2011, March). Drawing causal inferences using propensity scores. Paper presented at the Bi-Annual Meeting of the Society for Research on Child Development, Montreal, Canada.