Reversals of trait desirability are studied. Terms indicating conservativw behavior appeared to be judged relatively desirable in comparative judgement, while traits indicating dynamic and expansive behavior benefited from absolute judgement. The reversal effect was shown to be a general one, i.e. reversals were not dependent upon the specific…

Higher levels of predicting the more frequent event were achieved with males than females; with the contingent than the noncontingent situation; and with adult males than boys in the noncontingent situation. Females were more likely to repeat an incorrect prediction. (MH)

The problem of whether a precise connection exists between the stochastic processes considered in mathematical learning theory and the Guttman simplex is investigated. The approach used is to derive a set of conditions which a probabilistic model must satisfy in order to generate inter-trial correlations with the perfect simplex property.…

Student access to programmable calculators and computer terminals, coupled with a familiarity with baseball, provides opportunities to enhance their understanding of the binomial distribution and other aspects of analysis. (MP)

Power analysis is in essence a technique for estimating the probability of obtaining a specific minimum observed effect size. Power analysis techniques are applied to research planning problems in test reliability studies. A table for use in research planning and hypothesis testing is presented. (Author)

Data evolving from processes which are developmental or hierarchical in nature are often analyzed by using latent class or latent structure models. A procedure for estimating such models when the model is not "identifiable" is presented. (JKS)

When comparing examinees to a control group or person, the examiner usually does not know the probability of correct classification based on the number of items used and the number of people tested. Using ranking and selection techniques, a framework is described for deriving a lower bound on this probability. (Author/JKS)

A number game, used with sixth- and seventh-grade students, involving place value is described and discussed. (MK)

The distribution theory underlying corrections for guessing is analyzed, and the probability distributions of the random variables are derived. The correction in grade, based on random guessing of unknown answers, is compared with corrections based on educated guessing. (Author/MH)