Discusses criticisms of behavioral science research methodologies, and offers solutions which emphasize that it is only on the basis of theory that one can decide on an appropriate hypothesis to be tested, on a correct method of statistical analysis, and on whether the experimental results can be generalized to a population of interest. (Author/KS)

Examined vocational hypothesis testing by applying Snyder's hypothesis-testing research paradigm to a vocational task in two experiments. Subjects (N=106) were asked to evaluate the appropriateness of a specific occupation for themselves. Subjects tended to exhibit confirmatory hypothesis-testing strategies when relevant occupations were…

Questions the support of John Holland's hypothesis that person-environment congruence relates positively to achievement. Evidence is provided in a study that Holland claims supports his hypothesis, in Holland's (1985) book, in Holland's (1968) data, and in the authors' finding of a negative relationship between the annual incomes and conventional…

The properties of nonmetric multidimensional scaling one explored by specifying statistical models, proving statistical consistency, and devloping hypothesis testing procedures. Statistical models with errors in the dependent and independent variables are described for quantitative and qualitative data. (Author/LMO)

Several general correlation patterns are shown which give exact F tests in an analysis of variance (ANOVA) procedure. They are the most general correlation patterns one can assume in a one-way and two-way layout and still have the F tests be valid. (Author/BW)

Asserts that the sensitive-period hypothesis has not been tested on three counts: (1) no systematic studies of initial mother/infant contacts exist, (2) the majority of studies confound timing and amount of contact, and (3) failure to consider underlying mechanisms results in the omission of designs and dependent measures that could address…

Statistical methods, called latent variable models, have been developed to provide rigorous tests of theories involving unobserved variables. This paper describes the major types of latent variable models, shows how they can be applied in educational research, and gives representative examples of their use from the literature. (Author/BW)

The Welch-James procedure may be used to test hypothesis on means, when independent samples from populations with heterogenous variances are available. Summation formulas for the Welch-James procedure are presented for the 2x2 design. Matrix formulas that permit routine application of the procedure to crossed factorial designs are presented.…

Examined the influence of cognitive complexity and client observation on the quality of clinical hypotheses counselors develop and the number of questions generated to test them. Results showed no effect of these variables on hypothesis quality; but a significant interaction between client observations on the number of questions developed. (LLL)

The primary purpose of this research was to investigate the short- and long-term retention effects resulting from training students to organize and to classify information to be acquired. (Author)

Attempts to show how social learning theory provides a theoretical perspective for studying individual differences in information-seeking regarding preventive health care. (Author/RK)

Examines the position that the presence of contexts facilitates paired-associate learning through mediation. (Editor/RK)

Examines the similarity-attraction relationship using rating scale and bogus pipeline (a pseudophysiological monitoring device) techniques within the context of individual differences in social desirability biases and variations in experimental demands. (Author/RK)

When evaluating the utility of a psychological test for clinical decision making, both the psychometric properties of the test (i.e., the reliability and validity of the instrument) and the ambiguity of the language by which test results are interpreted or communicated need to be considered. Although each has been studied independently, to date…

This study applied nonparametric bootstrapping to test null hypotheses for selected statistics (KR-20, difficulty, and discrimination) derived from a student-made test. The test, administered to 21 students enrolled in a graduate-level educational assessment class, contained 42 items, 33 of which were analyzed. Random permutations of the data…