Basic to many psychological investigations is the question of agreement between observers who independently categorize people. Several recent studies have proposed measures of agreement when a set of nominal scale categories have been pre-defined and imposed on both observers. This study, in contrast, developes a measure of agreement for settings…

Researchers are often in a dilemma as to whether parametric or nonparametric procedures should be cited when assumptions of the parametric methods are thought to be violated. Therefore, the Kruskal-Wallis test and the ANOVA F-test were empirically compared in terms of probability of a Type I error and power under various patterns of mean…

This paper is based on a particulate pollutant system study to delineate the deficiencies in knowledge regarding the nature and magnitude of particulate pollutant emissions from stationary sources. Presented at the 12th Conference on Methods in Air Pollution and Industrial Hygiene Studies, University of Southern California, April, 1971, it focuses…

Since the development of causal path analysis by Wright, both the standardized and unstandardized procedures in path coefficient estimates have been advocated in the related literature, but the superiority of one technique over the other has not been demonstrated empirically or mathematically. In this study, the sampling properties of both…

A rederivation of Lord's formula for estimating variance in multiple matrix sampling is presented as well as the ways Cronbach's coefficient alpha and the Spearman-Brown prophecy formula are related in this context. (Author/JKS)

Confusion about the meaning of validity in quasi-experimental research can be addressed by carefully relabeling types of validity. Internal validity can more aptly be termed "local molar causal validity." More tentatively, the "principle of proximal similarity" can be substituted for the concept of external validity. (Author)

The development of a nonparametric K-sample test for equality of slopes using Puri's generalized L statistic is presented. The test is recommended when the assumptions underlying the parametric model are violated. This procedure replaces original data with either ranks (for data with heavy tails) or normal scores (for data with light tails).…

A computer program randomly sampled ordered pairs of scores from known populations that departed from bivariate normal form and calculated correlation coefficients from sample values. Hypotheses were tested (1) that population correlations are zero using the t statistic; and (2) that population correlations have non-zero values using the r to z…

Nearly half of all faculty members taught summer school last year, according to a "Chronicle" survey. Figures were for faculty members of all ranks and those without academic ranks. The disciplines with the most faculty members teaching were business/economics and physical education. (MLW)

A review of articles that report study results based on couple samples indicated response rates are rarely high enough for statistical inference. Four procedures that can be used to compensate for insufficient response rates (collecting information from nonparticipants, census comparisons, adjustment in analysis, and replication) are examined.…

The worries & wishes of 14 -19 years-old adolescents of Abadeh, Bavanat & Khorambid cities in the north of Fars province are investigated in this research. The wishes & worries are measured by wishes measurement scale (WMS) and Ahwaz worry inventory (AWI) respectively. The Ss consisted of 300 Adolescents (150 girls & 150 Boys) that…

This Digest describes matrix sampling of test items as an approach to achieving broad coverage while minimizing testing time per student. Matrix sampling involves developing a complete set of items judged to cover the curriculum, then dividing the items into subsets and administering one subset to each student. Matrix sampling, by limiting the…

The purpose of the current study was to investigate the effectiveness of four methods of handling missing data. Effectiveness was defined as the probability of reproducing the covariance matrix of the target sample accurately. Effectiveness of the missing data methods was assessed by manipulating the proportion of cases containing missing values…

This Digest describes four types of errors in mail surveys and summarizes the ways they can be reduced. Any one of these sources of error can make survey results unacceptable. Sampling error is examined through inferential statistics applied to sample survey results. In general, increasing sample size will decrease sampling error when simple…

Article considered recent research in language conducted by a teacher educator from St. Lucia, West Indies. Her specific focus was on the methods devised for collection and analysis of language samples. (Author/RK)