A new instrument of motivational climate in physical education is presented with the goal of measuring perceptions of teachers' emphasis on mastery, performance-approach, performance-avoidance, and social approval goals. The measure was based on the principle of compatibility, according to which climate perceptions and achievement goals should be…

This study examined the relation between self-restraint and exposure to violence (witnessing violence and victimization) in predicting increased frequencies of aggression and drug use among an ethnically diverse sample of sixth graders attending four rural middle schools (n = 913). Lower levels of self-restraint predicted higher rates of…

Lent (2004) posited a model of domain-specific and overall life satisfaction in which social-cognitive variables (self-efficacy, outcome expectations, environmental supports, and perceived goal progress) play key roles. In this study, the authors examined the relation of these variables to academic satisfaction. Participants were 153 engineering…

This study examined the role of adolescent perceptions of parental behavior and disrupted parenting in the continuity of antisocial behavior across generations. Participants included 430 adolescents and their biological parents assessed during the period from the 9th to 12th grades (9th grade age in years: M=15.09, SD=0.43). Structural equation…

A Monte Carlo simulation study was conducted to investigate the effects of sample size, estimation method, and model specification on structural equation modeling (SEM) fit indices. Based on a balanced 3x2x5 design, a total of 6,000 samples were generated from a prespecified population covariance matrix, and eight popular SEM fit indices were…

This study empirically investigated bootstrap bias estimation in the area of structural equation modeling (SEM). Three correctly specified SEM models were used under four different sample size conditions. Monte Carlo experiments were carried out to generate the criteria against which bootstrap bias estimation should be judged. For SEM fit indices,…

This study described an explicit multidimensional scaling (MDS) model for profile data, the Profile Analysis via Multidimensional Scaling (PAMS) model. It also illustrated the application of this model to the study of the structure of cognitive ability patterns using the Woodcock-Johnson Psychoeducational Battery-Revised (WJPB-R; 1989; 1991) and…

Presents an application of latent growth curve methodology to the analysis of longitudinal developmental change in alcohol consumption of 586 young adults, illustrating three approaches to the analysis of missing data: (1) multiple-sample structural equation modeling procedures; (2) raw maximum likelihood analyses; and (3) multiple modeling and…

Chest pain was identified as a specific medical problem space, and disease classes were modeled to define it. Results from a test taken by 628 medical residents indicate a second-order factor structure that suggests that chest pain is a multidimensional problem space. Implications for medical education are discussed. (SLD)

Used latent means analysis in the framework of structural equation modeling to explore the factor structure and gender differences associated with the Personal Style Inventory (PSI; C. Robins and others, 1994) with 508 Korean undergraduates. Results support the cross-cultural stability of the PSI factor structure. Women had higher scores than men…

Fitted structural equation models to covariances among 9 cognitive abilities Test variables, 11 intelligence test variables, and 3 achievement test scaled scores of 532 primary school children in a twin studies project. Results suggest that individual differences in mental speed are a main causal factor underlying correlation between general…

Notes that structural equation modeling (SEM) is a viable multivariate tool used by communication researchers for the past quarter century. Summarizes the use of this technique from 1995-2000 in 37 communication-based academic journals. Identifies and critically assesses 3 unique methods for testing structural relationships via SEM in terms of the…

Argues that data on siblings provide a way to account for the impact of unmeasured, omitted variables on relationships of interest because families form a sort of natural experiment, with similar experiences and common genetic heritage. Proposes a latent-variable structural equation approach to the problem, which provides estimates of both within-…

Applies the social relations model (SRM), designed to analyze nonindependent data, as a solution for studying the ways in which group members interrelate and influence one another that avoids some of the data analysis problems indigenous to group psychotherapy research. Discusses examples of applications of SRM to previously inaccessible research…

A group of 149 adult survivors of childhood sexual abuse was tested using a causal model that identifies relationships among sexual abuse situation characteristics, the accomplishment of cognitive coping tasks, and long-term effects. Results indicated the model did not fit the data. A revised model is proposed and examined. (JBJ)