A novel solution to the statistical problems in an evaluation of rare events is described. The significance of variations in the number of child homicides is analyzed in a binary time series of "active" months for monitoring future incidence and related systemic events. (Author/CM)

When evaluating the effectiveness of an educational program, multiple matrix sampling is particularly effective and efficient when the goal of the evaluation is estimating group (as opposed to individual) performance. The technique is described in some detail, with its advantages and disadvantages, and examples of its application are given.…

This paper relates common statistics from contingency table analysis to the more familiar R squared terminology in order to better understand the strength of the relation implied. The method of coding contingency tables was shown, as well as how R squared related to phi, V, and chi squared. (Author/CTM)

Monte Carlo techniques were employed to compare the familiar F-test with Welch's V-test procedure for testing hypotheses concerning a priori contrasts among K treatments. The two procedures were compared under homogeneous and heterogeneous variance conditions. (Author)

Two techniques for interpretation of fitted log-linear models in contingency table analysis are discussed. The use of odds ratios as opposed to direct interpretation of the fitted model is argued for. (Author/JKS)

The uses and abuses of cut scores are examined. The article demonstrates (1) that cut scores always entail judgment; (2) that cut scores inherently result in misclassification; (3) that cut scores impose an artificial dichotomy on an essentially continuous distribution of knowledge, skill, or ability; and (4) that no true cut scores exist. (SLD)

Important differences in the theory and practice of quantitative and qualitative research methodologies are highlighted. This article suggests that each of these methodologies can be improved by utilizing key ingredients of the other. (Author/IAH)

An attempt is made to clarify the philosophical foundations of the debate over research methodology appropriate for psychology in particular and the utility of null hypothesis testing in general. The article also relates the debate to education and suggests that the debate is far from settled. (IAH)

This article presents confidence interval methods for improving on the standard F tests in the balanced, completely between-subjects, fixed-effects analysis of variance. Exact confidence intervals for omnibus effect size measures, such as or and the root-mean-square standardized effect, provide all the information in the traditional hypothesis…

MAXCOV-HITMAX was invented by Paul Meehl as a tool for the detection of latent taxonic structures (i.e., structures in which the latent variable, u, is not continuously, but rather Bernoulli, distributed). It involves the examination of the shape of a certain conditional covariance function and is based on Meehl's claims that (R1) Taxonic…

This activity introduces students to the need for and rationale of hypothesis testing, using a basketball scenario familiar to even the most casual of fans.

In this study, the authors examined the stability of Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory--2 (J. N. Butcher, W. G. Dahlstrom, J. R. Graham, A. Tellegen, & B. Kaemmer, 1989) code types in a sample of 94 injured workers with a mean test-retest interval of 21.3 months (SD = 14.1). Congruence rates for undefined code types were 34% for…