Studies analyzing clustered data sets using both multilevel models (MLMs) and ordinary least squares (OLS) regression have generally concluded that resulting point estimates, but not the standard errors, are comparable with each other. However, the accuracy of the estimates of OLS models is important to consider, as several alternative techniques…

Educational researchers commonly use the rule of thumb of "design effect smaller than 2" as the justification of not accounting for the multilevel or clustered structure in their data. The rule, however, has not yet been systematically studied in previous research. In the present study, we generated data from three different models…

Advocates of modality preference posit that individuals have a dominant sense and that when new material is presented in this preferred modality, learning is enhanced. Despite the widespread belief in this position, there is little supporting evidence. In the present study, the authors implemented a Morse code-like recall task to examine whether…

The purpose of this study was to determine what effects manifest anxiety has on the achievement of selected reading variables (also tasks or skills) of children who, according to their CMAS scores, vary in general drive or anxiety levels. (Author)

There is general agreement that meta-analysis is an important tool for synthesizing study results in quantitative educational research. Yet, a shared feature of many meta-analyses is a failure to report sufficient information for readers to fully judge the reported findings, such as the populations to which generalizations are to be made,…

This study involved an investigation of the use of Pearson r, tetrachoric r, and Kendall Tau-B coefficients as measures of association for the incomplete principal components analysis of simulated Likert scale attitudinal data, based on a known factor pattern and possessing different types of severe departures from normality. (Author)

An empirical comparison is made of three proposed indices of relative predictor variable contribution: (1) the scaled weights of the first discriminant function; (2) the total group estimates of the correlations between each predictor variable and the first function; and (3) the within-groups estimates of the correlations between each predictor…

The contention of this paper is that the obtained difference in a study by DuCette and Wolk, which indicated that giving options in an essay examination produces poorer test performance, was an artifact of the scoring procedures. (Author/RK)

The purpose of the present study was to use factor analysis to demonstrate relationships among aptitude, intelligence, personality, and performance in various high school subjects. (Editor)

This study attempted to secure information about some personal and social characteristics of the undergraduate psychology majors at Marquette University. (Author/RK)

This article demonstrates that a significant pattern of bias is discernable in students' evaluations of instructors. (Editor)

Illustrates how expected mean squares needed in the analysis of variance can be arrived at via the use of only one rule: the expected mean square E(MS) for any source of variation for any ANOVA model is specified effect plus the specified effect in combination with any random effect. (Editor/RK)

Derives formulas for the validity of predictor-criterion tests that hold for all test scores constructed according to the expected-value concept of true score. These more general formulas disclose some paradoxical properties of test validity under conditions where errors are correlated and have some implications for practical testing situations…

Factor and cluster analyses are distinctly different multivariate procedures with different goals. However, when used in a complementary fashion, each set of methods can be used to enhance the interpretation of results found in the other set of methods. Simple examples illustrating the joint use of the methods are provided. (Author)