We focus on the identification of differential item functioning (DIF) when more than two groups of examinees are considered. We propose to consider items as elements of a multivariate space, where DIF items are outlying elements. Following this approach, the situation of multiple groups is a quite natural case. A robust statistics technique is…

Unlike a substantial part of reliability literature in the past, this article is concerned with weighted combinations of a given set of congeneric measures with uncorrelated errors. The relationship between maximal coefficient alpha and maximal reliability for such composites is initially dealt with, and it is shown that the former is a lower…

Describes the implementation of a standard Pearson chi-square statistic to test the null hypothesis of bivariate normality for latent variables in the Type I censored model. Assesses the behavior of the statistic through simulation and illustrates the statistic through an empirical example. Discusses limitations of the test. (Author/SLD)

The Welch-James (WJ) and the Huynh Improved General Approximation (IGA) tests for interaction were examined with respect to Type I error in a between- by within-subjects repeated measures design when data were non-normal, non-spherical and heterogeneous, particularly when group sizes were unequal. The tests were computed with aligned ranks and…

The source of an event-related brain potential (ERP) is estimated from multivariate measures of ERP on the head under several mathematical and physical constraints on the parameters of the source model. Statistical aspects of estimation are discussed, and new tests are proposed. (SLD)

Data from four studies were used to analyze the hypothesis that performance evaluation variables can be constructed with a rater's facet and a trait's facet. The regularity of the pattern of intercorrelations across different rater groups was remarkable. The use of facet analysis before confirmatory analysis is discussed. (SLD)

The sampling distributions of five popular measures of association with and without two bias adjusting methods were examined for the single factor fixed-effects multivariate analysis of variance model. The number of groups, sample sizes, number of outcomes, and the strength of association were manipulated. The results indicate that all five…

It is shown that goodness-of-fit criteria developed for the evaluation of multivariate structural models can be applied to assist in evaluating the dimensionality of a test consisting of binary items, and correlative methods regularly used in factor analysis can be employed to diagnose causes of misfit. (Author)

This article compares two methods for analyzing small sets of repeated measures data under normal and non-normal heteroscedastic conditions: a mixed model approach with the Kenward-Roger correction and a multivariate extension of the modified Brown-Forsythe (BF) test. These procedures differ in their assumptions about the covariance structure of…

A strategy for evaluating/modifying covariance structure models (CSMs) is presented. The approach uses recent developments in estimation under nonstandard conditions and unified asymptotic theory related to hypothesis testing, and it determines the extent of sample size sensitivity and specification error effects by relying on existing statistical…

Two recent indices of fit, the Relative Noncentrality Index (RNI) (R. P. McDonald and H. W. Marsh, 1990) and the Comparative Fit Index (P. M. Bentler, 1990), are shown to be algebraically equivalent in most applications, although one condition in which the RNI may be advantageous for model comparison is identified. (SLD)

Cudeck and Browne (1983) proposed using cross-validation as a model selection technique in structural equation modeling. The purpose of this study is to examine the performance of eight cross-validation indices under conditions not yet examined in the relevant literature, such as nonnormality and cross-validation design. The performance of each…