Article, written by members of the graduate seminar entitled Empirical Studies in Communication" at the University of Colorado, presumes that research in communication is a part of a process directed toward the formulation of an adequate explanation of human communication behavior. (Author/DR)

Presented are common words and phrases which are encountered in the statistical analysis of test results. Included are analysis of the mid-point, distribution of scores, calculation of scaled scores, test reliability, item analysis, and coefficients of reliability. (CS)

A multitrait-multimethod (MTMM) analysis of alienation employed two personality constructs conceptually relevant to alienation: hostility and locus of control. MTMM analysis indicated that eight of 15 convergent validity coefficients were statistically significant; however, magnitude was small and Campbell-Fiske criteria were not satisfied…

Six factors were examined in a national attitude survey: test use, anxiety, validity, fairness, judging one's own performance, and evaluation in general. Affective reactions of students toward evaluation were dependent on judging their own performance and on general affective attitudes toward school and society. (CP)

Research in physical education has too often been a random process. The integration of past work with current theory is necessary for the advancement of exercise and sports models to the state of high logical density. (CJ)

Provides evidence from a small northern U.S. city for Canadian raising, a Canadian phenomenon that heightens the onset of diphthongs in /ai/ and /au/ relative to the low central onset in neighboring dialects. Findings suggest that the Canadian diphthong varieties may not be conforming to the U.S. norm, but instead that the two varieties are…

Focuses on the discussion of whether "none of the above" (NOTA) questions should be used on tests. Discusses a study in which a protocol analysis was conducted on written statements of examinees while answering NOTA items. Explains that a multiple-choice test was given to university students finding that NOTA options seem to be more attractive.…

A modification index is presented to aid in reformulating hypothetical models rejected after analysis of empirical data. This index is an improvement over the one in the LISREL V computer program in that it takes into account changes in all parameters of the model when one parameter is freed. (SLD)

Functional and structural relationship alternatives to the standard "F"-test for analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) are discussed for cases when the covariate is measured with error. An approximate statistical test based on the functional relationship approach is preferred on the basis of Monte Carlo simulation results. (SLD)

Investigates the general factor and uniqueness characteristics of the individual tests of the Woodcock-Johnson Test of Cognitive Ability-Revised (WJTCA-R). Only 2 of the 19 WJTCA-R tests examined had low general factor loadings, while 2 had low uniqueness. All other tests had medium or high uniqueness. Discusses implications for clinical…

The authors show how the work of Nobel Laureates in economics can enhance student understanding and bring them up to date on topics such as probability, uncertainty and decision theory, hypothesis testing, regression to the mean, instrumental variable techniques, discrete choice modeling, and time-series analysis. (Contains 2 notes.)