Reviews recently published methods of assessment of dynamic formulations derived from psychodynamic case material, particularly those that emphasize central maladaptive interpersonal patterns. The methods are divided into those based on case studies and those with a moderate sample size. Psychometric properties are reviewed. The question of how…

Psychological assessment, a subspecialty of psychology has served as one of the earliest proving grounds of automated technology. This Special Series highlights some of the advances in computerized psychological assessment methods and discusses some of the lingering issues and contemporary problems with automated psychological assessment…

Focuses on validity of measures of service delivery. Examines claims relating to benefits of attending self-help groups on mental health functioning of individuals with depression or manic depression. Discusses questions related to individual patterns of attendance, generalization of intervention's effects, and migration from "home" to other…

Reviews research on two measures of transference: Q-sort questionnaire measures and psychotherapy process measures. Q-sort, although reliable, lacks validity information. Psychotherapy process measures have reliability and validity. Considerable comparability was found between process measures and operationalized propositions from Freud's…

Critiques violence prediction via methods for quantifying accuracy that fail to control for base rates or biases and describes how receiver-operating characteristic analysis can compensate. Via reanalysis of datasets from previously published studies suggests that mental health professionals' violence predictions are substantially more accurate…

Examined methodological issues confronting psychologists who conduct research with correctional populations. Sections included intrusion of values; problems with trait-derived methodologies in correctional population research, including inadequate construct validity, ignoring environmental influences and ignoring subjects; naturalness and problems…

Describes investigation examining item validity and differential item functioning (DIF) on items measuring subjective well-being and coping behavior among respondents representing 338 male and 627 female members of three ethnic groups via use of log-linear models. Results offer strong evidence of item validity and some evidence of DIF. (Author/CRR)

The choice of the clustering method, the similarity measure, the computer program, and the procedure for estimating the number of clusters should be clearly specified in any journal article using cluster analysis. Adequate evidence of a cluster solution's validity should be provided before the solution is published. (Author)

Contains seven articles discussing the application of meta-analysis to research on outcomes in psychotherapy. Provides a framework for understanding meta-analytic procedures and outlines major techniques. Reviews criticisms of integration of psychotherapy outcome research. Evaluates comparative therapy outcome research and discusses limitations of…