For 23 longitudinal studies of U.S. boomtowns, the ratio of increase in crime to increase in population averaged about 3.0, indicating a faster increase in crime than in population. Promising explanations focus on changes in community social structure and informal social controls, particularly density of acquaintanceship. Contains 74 references.…

Methods for assessing collapsibility in regression problems are described, including possible extensions to the class of generalized linear models. These procedures, with terminology borrowed from the contingency table field, can be used in experimental settings or nonexperimental settings where two models viewed as alternative explanations are…

Discusses problems in analyzing change in nonexperimental data. Tests three ordinary least-squares regression models to illustrate similarities/differences. Notes that model based on raw difference change scores applies best to studying change processes; model based on outcome scores applies best to assessing consequences of change; and model…

R. A. Bailey and J. C. Gower explored approximating a symmetric matrix "B" by another, "C," in the least squares sense when the squared discrepancies for diagonal elements receive specific nonunit weights. A solution is proposed where "C" is constrained to be positive semidefinite and of a fixed rank. (SLD)

A recent study, based on a national sample, examined the relationship between use of time management techniques to control time wasters and stress levels experienced by high school principals. Singular and composite correlations (using regression analysis) indicated a negligible relationship between the use of time management techniques and…

Analyzes propensity of business school alumni to give cash donations to their alma mater. Estimates a utility maximization model, using logistic regression and survey sample data of 1956-90 graduates of a large U.S public research university. Giving probability is strongly correlated with specific majors, time since graduation, other factors.…

Reports findings from 7 HIV/AIDS education and training projects involving more than 600 training sessions. Trainee characteristics were related to their assessments of training quality, using a regression decision-tree analytic approach. Discusses implications for curriculum development. (SLD)

Discusses the computation and application of various epidemiological measures of effect in educational and developmental research. Reviews issues related to the use and interpretation of the risk-ratio, the odds-ratio, and the logistic regression odds-ratio and examines community-level measures of effect. (SLD)

Analyzes trends in the percentage of older women living alone in 21 European and North American countries over the period 1960-92. The trend toward substantial increases in the percentage in elderly women living alone is shown to result mainly from demographic changes, with little evidence of a role for economic variables. (JPS)

Receiver operating characteristics (ROC) have advantages over other methods for predicting violent behavior recidivism because they are independent of the base rate for violence in the populations studied and of particular cutoff score chosen to classify cases as likely to be violent. Shows how ROC methods can be used to compare performance of…

The statistical ramifications of using equal weights, as compared to regression-based differential weights, in the estimation of Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale--Revised (WAIS-R) factor scores were explored using WAIS standardization data, based on 1,880 adults. Differences resulting from the two approaches were substantial, as is discussed.…

Used national survey data to examine the impact of high school algebra on students who differed in mathematics skills before entering high school. Regression analysis with over 12,500 students indicates that all students benefit from taking algebra, although benefits are smaller for those with very low prior achievement. (SLD)

Imposed a two-level regression model on the ability parameters in an item response theory (IRT) model. Uses a simulation study and an empirical data set to show that the parameters of the two-parameter normal ogive model and the multilevel model can be estimated in a Bayesian framework using Gibbs sampling. (SLD)

Conducted a simulation study of differential item functioning (DIF) to compare the power and Type I error rates for two conditions: using an examinee's ability estimate as the conditioning variable with the CATSIB program and either using the regression correction from CATSIB or not. Discusses implications of findings for DIF detection. (SLD)

In this article, we develop a quadripartite classification of social movement participants based on the participants' levels of interest in a movement goal and the amount of resources that the participants contribute to the movement. We use the latent class model to determine the percentage of participants in each of the four categories in our…