The Reiss Screen for Maladaptive Behavior was factor analyzed in 2 institutional samples and 1 community sample of persons with mental retardation (total n=353). Factor analysis revealed no strong justification for the instrument's seven scales. An alternative three-factor solution, comprising intrapersonal maladaptive behavior, psychotic…

Examined factors associated with individual variation in false belief understanding in three- to five-year olds. Found that family size was strongly associated with false belief understanding in children who were less competent linguistically, suggesting that the presence of siblings can compensate for slower language development in developing…

Examines relationships between readers' implicit models of reading processes and reader engagement. Notes that a factor analysis produced factors corresponding to a transmission model or to a transactional model. Finds that endorsing a transactional model was related to higher recall of expository text, and that individuals high on the…

The construct validity of the Category Test (W. C. Halstead, 1947) was studied for 308 adults with heterogeneous cognitive dysfunction. Factor analysis indicated that Category subtests load on three factors distinct from intelligence: (1) symbol recognition/counting; (2) spatial position reasoning; (3) and proportional reasoning. Clinical…

The research training environment has been described as all the forces in graduate training programs that reflect attitudes toward research and science. Examined the factor structure of the Research Training Environment Scale-Revised in a sample of 270 undergraduate students. Analyses suggest that an instructional dimension and an interpersonal…

Analyzed a 64-item checklist used in a university counseling center by collecting data from 226 closed client files. The checklist was analyzed in terms of its factor structure and the reliability of its resultant subscales. Analysis indicates that the problem checklist could be reduced from 64 to 44 items and can reliably assess 10 factors. (KW)

Reports results from a study of postgraduates at the University of Sheffield that investigated the relationship between study approaches and Web-based information seeking. Applied factor analyses to data from over 500 queries submitted in response to three search tasks to identify clusters of variables associated with three Web-based search…

This article illustrates the use of confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) to explicate constructs underlying performance assessment tasks based on Gardner's (1993) theory of multiple intelligences. Data from Plucker, Callahan, and Tomchin (1996) were reanalyzed using CFA. A model with three factors that combined linguistic and interpersonal…

Explores relationships among test-taker characteristics and test performance. Suggests test-taking strategies play a role in mediating between test taker characteristics and performance. Findings suggests that if classroom teachers were able to determine what their students are doing while taking tests and were able to apply those strategies that…

Examined key components of the "New Look" at adolescent imaginary audience and personal fable constructs. Found that only the invulnerability and omnipotence subscales of the New Personal Fable Scale were highly related. Boys were found to believe more strongly in their own uniqueness, invulnerability, and omnipotence than were girls.…

Uses factor analysis to compare the surveillance role and communication utility of television and newspapers. Finds much variance explained by these two uses. Finds those who seek hard news on television also seek hard news in newspapers. (RS)

Described is an experiment in which factor analysis is used to identify and quantify the components of mixtures containing up to four species. Discussed are the theory, procedures, and sample results for this activity. (CW)

Describes study that compared results of two inventories, one based on cognitive psychology and one from educational research, that measured university students' study styles and strategies. Factor analyses of the inventories and correlations between are reported, and research results from the United States and from other countries are discussed.…

A 21-item scale combining and modifying an environmental paradigm and a social paradigm was used in 2 surveys. This paper compares attitudinal dimensions resulting from factor analysis. Similarities in terms of relationships between scores on the scale and preferences for energy-related options were also assessed. (Author/CW)

Structured interviews with a random sample of adult basic education students in Iowa (N=323) and an academic ability test administered to a 50 percent subsample identified reasons for participation. Factor analysis revealed 10 motivational dimensions, and cluster analysis categorized 6 subgroups: mainstream women, the urged, young adults, the…