Previous research examining the effects of reducing the number of score groups used in the matching criterion of the Mantel-Haenszel procedure, when screening for differential item functioning, has produced ambiguous results. The goal of this study was to resolve the ambiguity by examining the problem with a simulated data set. The main results…

Current social psychological analysis of the self is characterized by three principles: the self is bounded and concrete; the opinions of others are valued for self-definition, self-evaluation and the maintenance of self-esteem; and the road to fame is paved with one's own actions. Attributions of causality for one's actions traditionally have…

Much research has investigated the processes by which individuals gain information about themselves through comparison with others. The simultaneous influence of different sources of social comparison referents and the level of relative performance on subjects' (N=60) allocation of rewards and satisfaction was examined. Male undergraduates,…

It is generally true that when people are deprived of their own cultural forms and are coerced into adopting the cultural forms of others, disorder, stress, and even disability will occur. Conversely, the basic strength of any people results from their experience of historical and cultural continuity. The strengths of African-American children and…

As a result of a recent College Board Admissions Testing Program Achievement Test scaling study, L. L. Cook and others recommended that the practice of sampling only high school juniors taking the achievement tests in June might be expanded to include sophomores and that a two-stage scaling procedure be evaluated. The two-stage procedure would…

In 1992 N. S. Raju and others proposed a general procedure for assessing differential test functioning (DTF) and item bias (differential item functioning or DIF) in tests developed with unidimensional, multidimensional, or polytomous item response theory (IRT) models. The purpose of this paper is to assess the adequacy and validity of their…

This paper examines the role of identity within the radical democratic traditions, specifically the categories known as citizens and worker. The progressive coalition aimed at countering classism, racism, ethnic and gender injustices, homophobia and misogyny must seek an axis around which to organize the diversity of humankind. Retaining the…

Systematic investigation of processes involved in needs analysis would improve current knowledge of the procedure and would bring analysts closer to the goal of generalized validity rather than situational validity. This article deals with two phases of the needs assessment process: selecting participants and defining needs and alternatives in…

Duval and Wicklund proposed a theory of self-awareness that distinguishes between objective and subjective self-awareness, in which objectively self-aware individuals are assumed to focus attention on themselves and subjectively self-aware individuals direct attention toward external objects. To investigate self-awareness of physical…

This paper presents findings of a study that examined the role of social networks in promoting or inhibiting student achievement. The study was based on the convoy model--a "convoy" is a dynamic, hierarchical structure of social relations that provide the individual with a supportive base from which to develop personal competencies. The premise of…

A preliminary classification of methods used during first-year law courses to develop a sense of professional identification among students is presented. Professors' images of lawyers conveyed to students are described based on faculty comments. In addition, informal student interviews were conducted to determine their awareness of this…

The Amish society has retained the essence of rural life and can tell us how this preservation is possible. Originally associated with the Swiss Anabaptists, Amish are often confused with Mennonites because of the early association with Menno Simons. Because the Amish do not make the "prideful" claim of salvation, they are…

Simulated data are used to assess the appropriateness of using separate calibration and between-fit approaches to detecting item bias in the Rasch rating scale model. Results indicate that Type I error rates for the null distribution hold even when there are different ability levels for reference and focal groups. (SLD)

This study examined the effect of reference group norms on individual attitudes when these norms were transmitted to the individual via the results of an opinion poll. In particular, the study was concerned with the strength of a prior attitude toward an issue and the degree that a reference group could influence attitudes. It was hypothesized…

This paper presents a flowsheet model describing the interpersonal process of adolescent identity formation in relation to peers and peer groups within a social-psychological context. The model describes a primary route, a secondary route, and a vicious circle as pathways toward identity formation in relation to peers and peer groups. In the…