Describes the application of basic factor analytical and classical scaling techniques to mathematics placement test data that indicates that the sequence of mathematical skill areas traditionally taught in schools should be somewhat altered in order for students to reach optimal achievement levels. (FL)

This study compares the dimensions of elite (political leaders) and mass (general public) opinions towards foreign policy. A factor analysis revealed the elite's five major concerns (internationalism, international organization, Americanism, defense spending, and interventionism) and an overall preference for structured approaches. The masses also…

The subscales of the Bristol Social Adjustment Guides are compared with those of the Behavior Problem Checklist so as to test the hypothesis of a two-factor structure in these rating scales. The specificity of each subtest was also investigated. (Author/GK)

Reports construction of a questionnaire for measuring secondary students' attitudes toward learning French. Suggests that the instrument may be easily adapted to other languages. An appendix provides a list of scaled items on the questionnaire. (SJL)

Factor-analyzed objective measures of interpersonal behavior presumed to be tapping assertiveness. Most of the behavioral measures loaded highly on a general factor of assertiveness. The fifth behavioral measure loaded highly on a separate factor, response latency. All behavioral measures with the exception of response latency evidenced…

Principal factor solutions to the WISC-R were compared across race for Anglo and Chicano children. Additional comparisons of factor solutions were made with those for Anglo, Chicano, Black, and Papago students and the WISC-R standardization sample. Substantial congruence occurred across race. The two-factor solution was most appropriate for this…

A factor analytic study of the behavioral and demographic variables that describe male and female juvenile offenders in a southern correctional facility identified 10 factors for females and six for males. Items clustered much as anticipated for both groups, with family conflicts and individual neurotic traits forming clusters. (Author)

This study sought to determine whether children of schizophrenic and manic-depressive parents would evidence more psychopathology on psychological testing than children of nonpsychotic parents and whether psychopathology in children at risk would be similar to adult psychopathology. Variables of age, sex, and race were considered. (Author/SJL)

Women were classified as career or homemaker oriented. Significant differences between groups were found on variables within enabling conditions (family characteristics), facilitating conditions (educational and vocational characteristics), and precipitating conditions (attitudinal factors). Enabling conditions best differentiated the groups.…

This study compared double cross-validation replication predictive accuracies of six types of factor scores with full-rank data by utilizing data in which classroom achievement was predicted from affective and cognitive variables. Prediction was significantly more accurate for factor scores than for full-rank data. (Author/CP)

Structure and construct validity of the California Preschool Social Competency Scale was investigated. Five factors were interpreted: considerateness; extraversion; task orientation; verbal facility; and response to the unfamiliar. The first three were found to be similar to the three dimensions of the Classroom Behavior Inventory. (Author/BW)

Examined the self-reported impact of factors affecting career decision making and tested the validity of the Career Factor Checklist (CFC) developed from O'Neil, Meeker, and Borgers' model. Results provide evidence of the factorial validity of the CFC, and support the O'Neil model and hypothesized factors affecting career decision making.…

The Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence (WPPSI) was factor analyzed at each of six age levels between four and six-plus years through the method of principal factors. Results substantially support Wechsler's division of the WPPSI subtests into a Verbal and a Performance scale at all age levels. (Author)

Examines if the same five bipolar factors that appear for the ideal role concepts of public school teachers also appear for parochial school teachers. Results indicated that parochial and public school teachers have similar factor structures, although there were significant differences in several factors when comparing scores. (Author/RC)

A variety of algorithms for analyzing covariance structures are considered. Additionally, two methods of estimation, maximum likelihood, and weighted least squares are considered. Comparisons are made between these algorithms and factor analysis. (Author/JKS)