Examined generalizability of treatment studies by comparing solicited and nonsolicited patient groups treated or studied in clinical settings. Findings suggest it may be possible to generate comparable samples in terms of pretreatment symptomatology, however, data are too limited to permit conclusions regarding generalizability of treatment…

Findings from randomized clinical trial revealed that procedures intended to protect psychotherapy blind were only modestly effective but comparable to standard procedures used to maintain pharmacotherapy blinds. Accuracy of guessing each form of treatment (psychotherapy or pharmacotherapy) was not independent of other. Findings suggest importance…

Notes that conventional statistical models are not suited for analysis of nonindependent observations produced by family systems. Demonstrates how structural equation modeling enables the study of family processes in a way that is consistent with a systems perspective. Uses analysis of perceived coerciveness in two-parent, two-child families to…

A previous study of psychopathology and ego development was replicated with design improvement. Contrary to the previous study, results suggested that ego development is not meaningfully predictive of type or severity of psychopathology. It is concluded that in terms of molar relations, ego development and psychopathology appear independent.…

Used empirical example of longitudinal experimental prevention study with two groups to illustrate use of structural equation modeling, first, to systematically test measurement invariance across groups at each wave of measurement, and second, after establishing measurement invariance, to test structural invariance longitudinally. (Author/NB)

Applied structural equation modeling to evaluation of cross-lagged panel models. Self-reports of physical and mental health at three time points spanning four-year interval were analyzed to illustrate cross-lagged analysis methodology. Data were analyzed from 856 patients with hypertension, diabetes, heart disease, or depression. Cross-lagged…

Designed three-factor experiment to evaluate potential for improving first-session performance of six trainee-therapists as measured by postsession client ratings (n=48). Rather than through standardizing therapist behavior by using training manual beforehand, therapist effects were handled through statistical control. Found that more frequent…

In a randomized clinical trial, a researcher can increase statistical power by including a covariate (or pretest) to reduce participants; however, this raises the cost per participant. A simple closed form expression is derived that applied researchers can use to answer the cost/benefit question. (JPS)

Presents reasons therapist should be included as random design factor in nested analysis of (co)variance (AN[C]OVA) design used in psychotherapy research. Reviews studies which indicate majority of investigators ignore issue of effects from incorrect specification of ANOVA design. Presents reanalysis of data from 10 psychotherapy outcome studies…

Used specific paths in structural equation models to examine reciprocal effects between constructs of polydrug use and relationship quality for 307 young women and 117 young men over 4-year period. Found eight effects for women and six for men from specific measures of drug use that adversely affected aspects of relationship quality. (Author/NB)

Used structural equation modeling with latent variables to examine group differences and test competing models about cause-effect relationships in passive longitudinal designs. Within example based on three-wave longitudinal study of adolescents' alcohol use, assessed generalizability of measurement model and structural model across gender and…

Methods are proposed and described for estimating the degree to which relations among variables vary at the individual level. As an example, M. Fishbein and I. Ajzen's theory of reasoned action is examined. This article illustrates the use of empirical Bayes methods based on a random-effects regression model to estimate individual influences…

Examined factors associated with research attrition in a long-term follow-up study (48 months). Researchers attempted to contact all randomized participants, not just those who completed treatment. The analyses deal primarily with refusal, the main reason for attrition. Short-term outcome did not predict refusal. The findings, if generalizable,…