When either regression models or subjectively-weighted models are used as aids in making placement decisions, the discriminant validity of these models is questioned. The validity of several regression models and of subjectively weighted models was investigated in two experiments. (Author/JKS)

A study among a sample of college students found that male and female single college students are moving toward an equal standard with regard to premarital sexual behavior. However, the interpersonal psychological correlates of sexual intercourse behavior appear to be quite different for males and females. (Author/MJL)

A test of the Biglan model of faculty subcultures using measures of research output and tests of the model controlling for the effects of faculty socialization are described. The Biglan model is found to be valid, and the distinctiveness of the Biglan groups appears to increase with the socialization of faculty into subject areas. (Author/MLW)

Systematically assessed the various roles essential to managers on different levels of the managerial hierarchy. Managers (N=352) rated the various roles required by their positions. The analysis of variance results indicated that seven of the 10 roles are influenced by hierarchical level. (Author)

Examines racial attitudes of hearing-impaired Black and White adolescents with regard to socioeconomic status and commute-to or residence-in school. Concludes by recommending administration of SAS-S and QSL tests to a wider ranging sample of students from more diverse backgrounds. (Author/DA)

Seven discriminant analyses were performed with significant group separation occurring for six of these. Classification analyses indicated that using the 10 major subtests produced accurate classification in approximately 71 percent of cases. Results were discussed in the light of previous research methodologies and the debate as to the…

Study attributes personality and motivation of students choosing supervised or unsupervised study in a group of high school juniors, and, using discriminant analysis, derives profiles of students who chose independent or dependent study. (RAO)

Discusses distance learning demographics, distance learning motivation, and barriers, and reports results of a questionnaire sent to students at a Canadian university that identified characteristics of students enrolling in distance education programs. Examines four models of descriptive characteristics (demographic, experiential, motivational,…

Discriminant analysis was used to identify variables predictive of success in the computerized National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses with data from 289 nursing graduates. Using seven significant predictors, 94% of passes and 92% of failures were correctly identified. (Contains 23 references.) (SK)

Item bias is a major threat to measurement validity. Methods for detecting differential item functioning (DIF) are now commonly used to identify potentially biased items. DIF detection methods for dichotomous items are well developed, but those for ordinal items are less well developed. In this article, the authors compare four methods for…

Spanish-speaking (SS) children with language impairment (LI) present with deficits in morphology and verb argument structure. These language areas may be useful for clinical identification of affected children. This study aimed to evaluate the discrimination accuracy of spontaneous language measures with SS preschoolers to tease out what…

Academic failure among first-year university students has long fuelled a large number of debates. Many educational psychologists have tried to understand and then explain it. Many statisticians have tried to foresee it. Our research aims to classify, as early in the academic year as possible, students into three groups: the "low-risk"…

Academic advisors help students with the process of decision making, of making sense of their world, of understanding how they go about learning, and of understanding how to appreciate diversity in their world. If advisors are to help students in these areas, academic advisors should be aware of the cognitive processes of how they make sense of…

A subset of a real data set from a national survey on alcohol use and driving in Canada (original sample of 6,457) is used to illustrate an ad hoc analysis with missing data on multiple response variables. A complete-case analysis initiates this strategy, determining variables that may be deleted without losing effects of interest. By such a…

The use of multivariate statistics in the social and behavioral sciences is becoming more and more widespread. One multivariate technique that is commonly used is discriminant function analysis. This paper compares and contrasts the two purposes of discriminant analysis, prediction and description. Using a heuristic data set, a conceptual…