R. D. Howell, E. Breivik, and J. B. Wilcox (2007) have argued that causal (formative) indicators are inherently subject to interpretational confounding. That is, they have argued that using causal (formative) indicators leads the empirical meaning of a latent variable to be other than that assigned to it by a researcher. Their critique of causal…

The constraints of conducting evaluations in real-world settings often necessitate the implementation of less than ideal designs. Unfortunately, the standard method for estimating the precision of a result (i.e., confidence intervals [CI]) cannot be used for evaluative conclusions that are derived from multiple indicators, measures, and data…

Because persons with mental retardation cannot be executed for murder, the diagnosis becomes a life and death matter. The American Association on Mental Retardation (now the American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities) and other associations agree that IQ alone is an insufficient criterion and adaptive functioning also…

This research derives simplified formulas for computing the standard error of the frequency estimation method for equating score distributions that are continuized using a uniform or Gaussian kernel function (P. W. Holland, B. F. King, and D. T. Thayer, 1989; Holland and Thayer, 1987). The simplified formulas are applicable to equating both the…

Planned comparisons have been known for several years. Due to the availability of computers, these comparisons have become a more viable alternative to post hoc testing. There are several different types of planned comparisons that can be performed. Research goals must be well thought out when using planned comparisons, since the appropriate…

Three successively simpler formulas for approximating the standard error of measurement were derived by applying successively more simplifying assumptions to the standard formula based on the standard deviation and the Kuder-Richardson formula 20 estimate of reliability. The accuracy of each of these three formulas, with respect to the standard…

The ability of bisection procedures to specify the form of the psychophysical scale depends upon the precision of the technique. It is demonstrated that this precision is a function of the stimulus interval bisected. The testing of interval scale properties of derived scales is discussed. (Author/JKS)

Goodman contributed to the theory of scaling by including a category of intrinsically unscalable respondents in addition to the usual scale-type respondents. However, his formulation permits only error-free responses by respondents from the scale types. This paper presents new scaling models which have additional desirable properties. (Author/JKS)

Used Johnson's transformation (N. Johnson, 1978) with approximate test statistics to test the homogeneity of simple linear regression slopes in the presence of nonnormality and Type I, Type II or complete heteroscedasticity. Computer simulations show that the proposed techniques can control Type I error under various circumstances. (SLD)

Presents a construction method for all factors that satisfy the assumptions of the model for factor analysis, including partially determined factors where certain error variances are zero. Illustrates that variable elimination can have a large effect on the seriousness of factor indeterminacy. (SLD)

This article provides a framework for reporting internal consistency reliability in counseling research and other related social science fields, including guidelines relative to score reliability coefficients and associated confidence intervals for both full sample and subgroups. Follow-up techniques for investigating low score reliability are…

Established a new criterion for the identification of recursive linear models in which some errors are correlated. Shows that identification is assured as long as error correlation does not exist between a cause and its direct effect; no restrictions are imposed on errors associated with indirect causes. (SLD)

Sees soft data, measures having substantial intrasubject variability due to errors of measurement or response inconsistency, as important measures of response in randomized clinical trials. Shows that using intensive design and slope of response on time as outcome measure maximizes sample retention and decreases within-group variability, thus…

Proposes true score models that can account for correlated errors and their effect on coefficient alpha. These models allow random measurement errors on earlier items to affect directly or indirectly the scores on later items. Conditions under which coefficient alpha may yield spuriously high estimates or reliability are discussed. (SLD)