The role that language plays in mediating the influence of verbal descriptions of persons on trait ratings of those persons was studied for 280 college students. Results suggest that the influence of verbally communicated descriptions of persons on trait ratings is mediated by the expected latent factors. (SLD)

Factor structure of the Reactions to Tests (RTT) scale measuring test anxiety was studied by testing a series of confirmatory factor models including a second-order structure with 636 college students. Results support a shorter 20-item RTT but also raise questions about the cross-validation of covariance models. (SLD)

The Speech-Language Pathologist Stress Inventory is a 48-item questionnaire adapted from the Teacher Stress Inventory. Factor analyses of the responses of 626 speech-language pathologists revealed 4 stress source factors: bureaucratic restrictions, time and workload management, lack of professional supports, and instructional limitations. (DB)

This study found that word retrieval, phonological awareness, sentence completion, and narrative discourse processing skills of 93 reading-disabled students (ages 8-14) differed from skills of 93 normally achieving students. Performance on sentence completion and word retrieval measures best accounted for variance in younger reading-disabled…

This study examined whether the relative efficacy of 2 language teaching methods was predicted by pretreatment subject characteristics of 40 handicapped preschoolers. Seven statistical interactions between pretreatment subject characteristics and language teaching methods indicated that lower-functioning children benefited more from the Milieu…

Structural equation models merge multiple regression, path analysis, and factor analysis techniques into a single data analytic framework. Measurement models are developed to define latent variables, and structural equations are then established among the latent variables. Explains the development of these models. (KS)

A self-regulated learning inventory was developed for the study and was administered to 160 college students. Factor analysis found that self-regulated learning and self-efficacy account for the majority of the variance. The importance of self-regulated learning in college academic achievement is supported by these results. (SLD)

A conceptual framework is provided for thinking about measurement invariance (or bias), and conditions are demonstrated under which invariance can occur. Tools are suggested for addressing such issues as fairness in employment testing, salary equity, and cross-sectional developmental change. Strict factorial invariance is required for…

This study assessed teachers' beliefs about the effectiveness of various instructional media across a diverse set of learning situations. Subjects were 87 preservice teachers at a major northeastern university. A confirmatory factor analysis supported two latent constructs representing beliefs about traditional and technology-based instructional…

Four studies examined reading disabilities in elementary school children from the perspective of componential skills of reading. A principal-components analysis of the performance of 139 children on reading-related tasks yielded two factors: decoding and comprehension. Factor analyses indicated that orthographic skills and processing speed could…

Examined the factorial validity of scores on the Quick Discrimination Index (QDI) (J. Ponterrotto and others, 1995), a measure of racial attitudes, with 299 college staff and students, 532 college staff and students, and 118 dental students from three geographic areas of the United States. The QDI three-factor model was relatively stable across…

Reviews research focusing on problem-solving deficits and their relationship to suicidal behavior and considers some of the methodological problems that arise. Discusses findings in terms of active versus passive problem solving, state or trait factors, and the psychological processes underlying problem solving. (Author/JDM)

Studied beliefs about language learning of Japanese university learners of English. Sought to validate a questionnaire developed for the Japanese context on a variety of beliefs; investigate the value of interview data to complement and explain questionnaire data; and describe beliefs about language learning and determine how those beliefs are…

Preferences for competitive and cooperative learning were explored in 176 gifted students (ages 9-17). A factor analysis partitioned competitive items into a desire to outperform others and as an energizing factor for learning. Different motivational correlates of cooperative/competitive factors also suggested the validly of a differentiated…

Discusses the ongoing debate in the field of language assessment concerning the relative strengths of analytic versus holistic composition rating scales. Uses multiple regression analysis and exploratory factor analysis to evaluate both methods, and finds that because different rating scales measure different constructs, they cause the meaning of…