Beginning with Version 11, SPSS implemented the MIXED procedure, which is capable of performing many common hierarchical linear model analyses. The purpose of this article was to provide a tutorial for performing cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses using this popular software platform. In doing so, the authors borrowed heavily from Singer's…

In this article, the authors discuss their belief in organizing curricula around sets of causal models in order to provide students with opportunities not only to learn about the subject matter of particular disciplines, but also about how scientific knowledge is generated and justified. They describe a nine-week genetics course for high school…

The authors contribute to the development of empirical methods for measuring the impacts of place-based local development strategies by introducing the adjusted interrupted time-series (AITS) approach. It estimates a more precise counterfactual scenario, thus offering a stronger basis for drawing causal inferences about impacts. The authors…

D. Hume (1739/1987) argued that causality is not observable. P. W. Cheng claimed to present "a theoretical solution to the problem of causal induction first posed by Hume more than two and a half centuries ago" (p. 398) in the form of the power PC theory (L. R. Novick & P. W. Cheng). This theory claims that people's goal in causal induction is to…

Many transformations that take place over time can only occur in one temporal direction, and adults are highly sensitive to the differences between forward and backward presentations of such events. In seven experiments using two selective-looking paradigms, 4- and 8-month-olds were shown forward and backward videotapes of events involving the…

The treatment of uncertainty in the business classroom has been dominated by the application of risk theory to the utility-maximization framework. Nonetheless, the relevance of the standard risk model as a positive description of economic decision making often has been called into question in theoretical work. In this article, the authors offer an…

How do people learn causal structure? In 2 studies, the authors investigated the interplay between temporal-order, intervention, and covariational cues. In Study 1, temporal order overrode covariation information, leading to spurious causal inferences when the temporal cues were misleading. In Study 2, both temporal order and intervention…

Daniel Offer's seminal writings in the 1960s led to a realization that normal adolescence was not characterized by turmoil and upheaval, the then prevailing view that derived from studies of clinical samples. In this paper, the research findings that have appeared over the last four decades are reviewed with respect to the overall features of…

Most of the studies that account for the endogeneity bias when estimating the returns to schooling assume that the relationship between education and earnings is linear. Studies that assume the latter relationship to be non-linear simply ignore the endogeneity bias. Moreover, they either assume an ad-hoc non-linear relationship or argue that…

One factor related to postrape trauma is the survivor's belief about the cause of the rape. Most research to date on the relation between causal attributions and postrape recovery has been guided by a theoretical model which proposes that certain types of self-blame can be adaptive for survivors. Specifically, behavioral self-blame is thought to…

Based on a review of prior research, a causal model was proposed to explain the relationship between child abuse, dissociation, depression, and revictimization. In the model, dissociation and depression were proposed as mediator variables, developing out of child abuse and leading to revictimization. Subjects were 301 male and female university…

A theoretical and philosophical revision of the concept of fit in structural equation modeling and its relation to a confirmation bias is developed. The neutral character of fit indexes regarding this issue is argued, concluding that protection against confirmation bias relies on model modification strategy and scientist behavior. (SLD)

Explores cause-effect models and their role in educational research, reviewing various kinds of causal models. Concludes that cause-effect provides a powerful, persuasive, and nearly universal explanation for social and psychological processes despite the inability to detect it directly. (SLD)

Explains causal path modeling, addressing common misconceptions. Emphasizes the real-world validity of causal relationships depicted in models. Uses examples from research on the antecedents of career success. (Contains 37 references.) (SK)

Based on the division of attained change for each treated individual into causal and noncausal change, the product-moment correlation between causal change and initial level is studied and compared with the correlation between attained change and initial level. Relevant formulas for true scores at population level are presented. (SLD)