Factor analysis of 23 scales assessing language and other forms of anxiety identified three separate factors of social evaluation, state, and language anxiety and found some correlations between scores based on those factors and measures of memory and vocabulary production in both native and second language. (46 references) (Author/CB)

A factorial survey incorporating 2,308 vignettes (1,198 vignettes by females and 1,110 by males) about student-to-student sexual harassment was completed by 231 undergraduates. Perceived seriousness of the incident depended most on behavior of the male offender. Implications for the study of sexual harassment and accounts of harassment are…

Observes the impact of gender and status on the communication of 26 same-sex and 13 mixed-sex dyads of college students. Suggests that differences in the use of certain linguistic features may be more a result of a power differential than of gender. Other characteristics of the speaker, however, must also be considered. (CJS)

Describes a new method for automatic indexing and retrieval called latent semantic indexing (LSI). Problems with matching query words with document words in term-based information retrieval systems are discussed, semantic structure is examined, singular value decomposition (SVD) is explained, and the mathematics underlying the SVD model is…

A useful method is proposed for identifying a variable as inconsistent in factor analysis. The procedure, based on the likelihood principle, is illustrated. Statistical properties such as the effect of misspecified hypotheses, the problem of multiple comparisons, and robustness to violation of distributional assumptions are investigated. (SLD)

Provides psychometric information on the second edition of the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II) (A. Beck, R. Steer, and G. Brown, 1996) for internal consistency, factorial validity, and gender differences. Results indicate that the BDI-II is a stronger instrument than its predecessor in terms of factor structure. (SLD)

Developed and refined an instrument designed to measure the effectiveness of school-based partnerships using four theoretical models of partnering efforts. Results based on survey responses of 297 educators and volunteers from partnerships show how Rasch analysis, bias analysis, and principal-components analysis can be used to evaluate the…

Examined the factor structure of the responses of 487 Chinese high school students to the Verbal, Math, Academic, and General self-concept scales of the Self-Description Questionnaire-II administered in China at two time points. Results support the multidimensionality and domain specificity of academic self-concepts found in Western countries for…

Uses exploratory factor-analysis and confirmatory factor-analysis to identify and cross-validate the factorial structure underlying two group intelligence tests and two group-Piagetian tests. Establishes a high degree of overlap between Piagetian and psychometric intelligence tests, most likely because both types of test appear to measure…

The psychometric properties of the Hopelessness Scale for Children (A. Kazdin et al., 1983) were examined for children and adolescents with mental retardation or a learning disability. Analyses of scores from 261 students shows a factor structure almost identical to the original structure and scale scores of adequate validity. (SLD)

Reports on the development of the Hebrew language translation of the Bath County Computer Attitude Scale among a sample of 339 undergraduate students in Israel. The data support the reliability and validity based on frequency, correlation, reliability, and factor routines analyzed with the SPSS (Statistical Package for the Social Sciences).…

An alternative two-stage least squares (2SLS) estimator of the parameters in LISREL type models is proposed and contrasted with existing estimators. The new 2SLS estimator allows observed and latent variables to originate from nonnormal distributions, is consistent, has a known asymptotic covariance matrix, and can be estimated with standard…

A school work culture productivity model is reviewed, and the development of a culture productivity instrument based on the model is reported. Second-order component analysis of responses of 416 elementary school educators showed broad areas of generalization across the primary work culture components. (SLD)

Describes development and testing of the Literacy Orientation Survey (LOS)--an instrument for assessing teachers' beliefs about literacy learning and classroom practices as related to constructivism. Finds while LOS has robust internal validity and reliability, questions remain about external validity of teachers' self-reports of their…

Studied the influence of maternal substance abuse upon the placement of children in out-of-home care and the subsequent effects on mother-child visitation. Found five major factors that can promote or inhibit visiting: (1) mother's drug use and health status; (2) effect of visits on child; (3) transportation; (4) scheduling/visit settings; and (5)…