This collection of diverse conference papers discusses work in the traditions of factor analysis, ordinal psychometrics, structural equations, and some special purpose models for the analysis of change. It is a useful source, but does little to link the psychometric framework to general developments in statistics and other disciplines. (SLD)

A survey of 1,000 Americans with self-ascribed disabling conditions identified 6 factors differentiating individuals who did and did not consider themselves "disabled," including (1) belief that others considered them disabled, (2) self-rated severity of disability, (3) identification with others with disabilities, (4) gender, (5)…

Using simulated and real data, this study compares the performance of three methodologies for assessing unidimensionality: (1) DIMTEST; (2) the approach of Holland and Rosenbaum; and (3) nonlinear factor analysis. All three models correctly confirm unidimensionality, but they differ in their ability to detect the lack of unidimensionality.…

Examined mothers' representations of their relationship with toddler sons over a 13-month period. Found that the three factors characterizing mothers' representations for 15-month olds also fit data for 28-month olds. Found significant increases in anger but no changes in joy, pleasure, coherence, guilt, and separation distress. Changes in…

This study explored to what extent perinatal morbidity is a risk factor for maltreatment through review of the medical charts of 206 children, ages 0-3, who had been referred to child protective services based on either prenatal findings of maternal inadequacy or postnatal findings of child maltreatment. Perinatal complications were associated…

Explains that the English Office for Standards in Education (OFSTED) has built an extensive database of information through inspections of secondary schools. Analyzes various factors from database scales at the school and student levels through factor analysis. Explains that the findings indicate the usefulness of the OFSTED database for school…

Developed a scale to measure individuals' desire for moral approbation. Factor analysis of data from 382 university business students supported the viability of desired moral approbation, which was composed of three constructs: (1) desire for approbation from others; (2) desire to avoid moral blame from others; and (3) desire for moral approval…

Parents and teachers completed their respective versions of the Rating Scale of Children's Actual Behavior (S. Harter, 1985) to assess five domains of competence for 321 third graders and 403 sixth graders. Five factors were found in both scales, and two higher-order factors also emerged. All subscales showed a high degree of discriminant…

Pseudo-Maximum Likelihood (p-ML) and Asymptotically Distribution Free (ADF) estimation methods for estimating dynamic factor model parameters within a covariance structure framework were compared through a Monte Carlo simulation. Both methods appear to give consistent model parameter estimates, but only ADF gives standard errors and chi-square…

Investigates the relationship among principal leadership power; teacher empowerment; teacher compliance; and conflict within self, with peers, and with the principal, based on a survey of 250 teachers. Factor analysis and regression analysis revealed a strong association for expert power and referent power with each conflict dimension and teacher…

Discusses an investigation of reported attitudes on language use in Cyprus. Identifies boundaries of social division and provides reasons for the coexistence of multiple linguistic codes. Accounts for the use of national and international codes (Greek-Cypriot dialect, Standard Modern Greek, English), their market value, and their location within…

Four factors emerged from factor analyses of items developed to measure perfectionism. Scales based on these factors were then used to explore possible differences between perfectionistic college students in counseling who either did or did not consider their perfectionism to be a problem. (JPS)

Dealing with data from multiple family members presents problems for researchers, as many of the techniques available for dealing with such data are problematic, and there is no way that is unique to each family. Proposes and gives an example of the use of Q factor analysis as a means of combining data from multiple family members in a unique way…

This study assessed the factor structure of the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-Revised (WISC-R) with 68 Mexican American students (ages 6 to 16) referred for intellectually gifted assessments. Analysis found differences with three previously identified main factors (verbal comprehension, perceptual organization, and freedom from…

Data from 104 school children were analyzed to determine the psychometric and conceptual soundness of the Universal Nonverbal Intelligence Test (UNIT), devised for children with limited English language proficiency. Examines test validity through construct validity, confirmatory factor analysis, and exploratory factor analysis in comparison with…