A mathematics test and the Thurstone PMA Battery were administered to 225 technical students. The item/item correlations were analyzed using both a principal components and a maximum-likelihood method. After varimax rotation, the same structure emerged from both. Results suggest a "mathematical ability" factor independent of…

Estimators which are optimal under assumptions of normality are shown to be vulnerable to the effects of outliers. A survey of robust alternatives is presented. Included are alternatives to the mean, standard deviation, product-moment correlation, t-test, analysis of variance, multivariate techniques, and schemes for outlier detection. (Author/JKS)

The Activity Vector Analysis is a short personality measure, widely used in industry for personnel selection, placement and assessment. This paper questions the statistical basis of the measure as it has appeared in the literature. Recommendations are made for revision of the measure and for resolution of theoretical incongruencies. (Author/JKS)

The Internal-External Locus of Control Scale was modified to a Likert-type scale and subjected to a principal components analysis and varimax rotation on a sample of subjects. Four factors were extracted which were then related to other personality measures on the same sample. (JKS)

Factor analysis of data from 1,070 federal employees, 575 undergraduates and 575 graduate students, faculty, and staff uncovered some weaknesses in the Merit Systems Protection Board's sexual harassment survey instrument. This type of survey does not adequately measure sexual coercion or quid pro quo forms of harassment. (SK)

Analyzes whether the latest version of the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (WISC-III) measures the same constructs across its 11 age spans and what constructs are measured by the WISC-III. Findings indicate that WISC-III does measure the same constructs across ages but does not measure Freedom from Distractibility. (RJM)

Scales constructed using principal components and Rasch measurement methods are compared under conditions of unclear constructs and marginal sample sizes with three data sets of increasing complexity. Results of the two methods were identical when data were stable and the structure unidimensional. (SLD)

Factor analysis of responses from 2,505 of 5,587 residents of Colorado, Vermont, and Wyoming identified concerns about poverty, substance abuse, needs of the elderly, parenting stress, and youth preparation for employment. Factor analysis was recommended to strengthen opinion polling results for use in planning family life education programs. (SK)

Two samples (251 undergraduates and 1,788 employed adults) completed the Career Beliefs Inventory. Confirmatory and exploratory factor analyses did not support the conclusion that scale scores cluster in an expected manner for either the five-factor or the four-factor model. (SK)

To extend the transactional-transformational model of leadership, four theoretical behavioral types of leadership were developed based on literature review and data from studies of executive behavior (n=253) and subordinate attitudes (n=208). Confirmatory factor analysis of a third data set (n=702) support the existence of four leadership types:…

Explored prevalence and ability of selected factors to explain sexual activity and use of contraceptives among a cohort of children entering out-of-home care. Found that children as young as 8 reported sexual activity and more than one-third between ages 8 and 18 are sexually active. Identified five important variables in sexual activity and two…

Whether the four-factor structure of the Aggression Questionnaire (A. Buss and M. Perry, 1992) from previous studies would be replicated in an offender population was studied with 200 adult offenders. Results of a confirmatory factor analysis indicate that a two-factor structure is a better fit with offenders. (SLD)

Correlational analyses of data from 202 students on the Work Environment Scale and Salter Environmental Type Assessment (SETA) supported concurrent validity. Factor analysis identified three factors accounting for 70% of variance: positive work settings, structure, and work pressure/task orientation. SETA appears useful as a commensurate Myers…

As an alternative to equally weighted difference scores, examined an orthogonal reliable component analysis (RCA) solution and an oblique principal components analysis (PCA) solution for the standardization sample of the Kaufman Assessment Battery for Children (KABC; A. Kaufman and N. Kaufman, 1983). Discusses the practical implications of the…

An estimate and upper-bound estimate for the reliability of a test composed of binary items is derived from the multidimensional latent trait theory of R. D. Bock and M. Aitken (1981). The practical uses of such estimates are discussed. (SLD)