The impact of misspecifying covariance matrices at the second and third levels of the three-level model is evaluated. Results indicate that ignoring existing covariance has no effect on the treatment effect estimate. In addition, the between-case variance estimates are unbiased when covariance is either modeled or ignored. If the research interest…

Proactive preliminary minimum sample size determination can be useful for the early planning stages of a latent variable modeling study to set a realistic scope, long before the model and population are finalized. This study examined existing methods and proposed a new method for proactive preliminary minimum sample size determination.

This study investigates the psychometric properties of the Romanian version of the Dyadic Coping Inventory with data from 510 married couples. The results confirm the theoretical factorial structure of the Dyadic Coping Inventory for both partners, indicating convergent validity, discriminate validity, and measurement invariance (across genders…

Occupational employment projections for 1990 were conservative. Detailed comparison of projected and actual increases shows that too many occupations were projected to have average growth and more of those expected to have rapid growth were underprojected. (Author)

Evaluates the projections of 1980 economic activity and industry output and employment. Discusses errors in employment projections (especially in underestimations of employment) and determines sources of errors. (SK)

It is a widely held belief that anchor tests should be miniature versions (i.e., minitests), with respect to content and statistical characteristics of the tests being equated. This paper examines the foundations for this belief. It examines the requirement of statistical representativeness of anchor tests that are content representative. The…

Using a new twins sample, presents new estimates of schooling returns and "ability" bias and tests that bias's significance. Ability bias may exist even if ability's genetically-endowed component does not affect schooling decisions directly when correlated with other family characteristics (like income) that do affect schooling. (19…

Due to inaccuracies in method, public libraries consistently undermeasure their reference transactions. This article chronicles the process of developing ways to systematize the count. Results of a literature survey, merits of various sample sizes, sample selection, and calculations are all discussed. Appendices include a list of categories of…

Reexamines Ashenfelter and Krueger's estimates of schooling returns (13%), using three additional years of the same twins survey. Finds a 10% return per year of schooling completed. The within-twin regression estimate of schooling's effect in the log wage is smaller than the cross-sectional estimate. (14 references) (MLH)

Community colleges have been criticized for lowering the educational aspirations of their students. This paper suggests that this contention is subject to serious measurement errors. Evidence is presented from several surveys.

Two techniques for determining a straight line fit to data are compared. This article reviews two simple techniques for fitting a straight line to a set of data, namely the method of averages and the method of least squares. These methods are compared by showing the results of a simple analysis, together with a number of tests based on randomized…

Procedures are described for studying the reliability of decisions based on specific passing scores with tests made up of discrete items and designed to measure continuous rather than categorical traits. These procedures are based on the estimation of the joint distribution of true scores and observed scores. (CTM)

Recent within-twin estimates of schooling returns are considerably higher than existing estimates. This paper shows that small ability differences among twins can yield more upward omitted-ability bias (and more upward bias overall) in the instrumental variables estimate correcting for measurement error than in the standard within-twin estimate.…