Examined the psychometric properties of the Beck Hopelessness Scale (A. Beck and others, 1974) among 544 university students. Results show satisfactory internal consistency of scores, but factor analysis suggested four factors that were largely uninterpretable. Results of a convergent validity study indicate that there are more appropriate…

Business communication students (n=92) used a new instrument to rate their performance and that of other group members. Factor analyses and Cronbach's alpha confirmed the reliability and validity of the Group Member Rating Form as a self-evaluation instrument. (SK)

Assessment of visual acuity, using Teller Acuity Cards, was combined with observations of behavioral state to indicate central nervous system activation in 24 individuals with mental retardation. Results indicate that forced-choice preferential-looking technique can be used to test visual acuity in this population unless the participant is drowsy.…

One hundred middle school students completed four measures of mathematics skills (involving basic facts and estimation) twice in one week. Criterion measures included school grades, standardized test scores, and teacher ratings. Correlation and regression analyses indicated the measures are reliable and possess acceptable levels of criterion…

Proposes and tests a measure for narrative coherence and fidelity. Finds that the Narrative Coherence and Fidelity Measure had satisfactory interitem Cronbach alpha reliabilities for both Coherence and Fidelity, and that Coherence and Fidelity scores predicted variance in the persuasiveness of oral and written narratives. (SR)

Examined associations between mothers' and trained observers' Attachment Q-Set (AQS) sorts for preschoolers and assessed mother-observer concordance in relation to observers' confidence about how representative the behavior they witnessed was of the domain of AQS items. Found that mothers' and observers' sorts were significantly intercorrelated;…

Simulations demonstrate the effects of correlated errors on the person-by-occasion design in which the confounding effect of equal time intervals results in correlated error terms in the linear model. Two specific error correlation structures were examined. Conditions under which underestimation and overestimation occur are discussed. (SLD)

Added a sixth factor to the Dimensions of Self-Concept Scale-Form H (DOSC) (W. Michael and others, 1984), and examined its reliability and validity with a sample of 350 midshipmen at the U.S. Naval Academy. Results indicate satisfactory reliability for all six scales and an oblique six-factor model that supports the multidimensionality of the…

Explores the nature of 360 degree feedback, investigates factors that have influenced its emergence, and contrasts it with more traditional performance management processes. Identifies benefits and problems, considers issues surrounding sources of feedback, and discusses issues related to the use of multirater feedback. (Contains 99 references and…

Surveys 354 nationally certified school psychologists on the perceived usefulness of the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-III (WISC-III) in general and profile analysis in particular. Practitioners rated the WISC-III as very useful for determining diagnosis and educational placement, but less useful for developing instructional strategies…

Surveyed AERA members regarding their perceptions of: statistical issues and statistical significance testing; the general linear model; stepwise methods; score reliability; type I and II errors; sample size; statistical probabilities as exclusive measures of effect size; p values as direct measures of result value; and p values evaluating…

Critiques some of the strong positions taken by Bruce Thompson on a variety of methodological issues. Provides alternative views, and discusses the role of editorial policy in research reporting. Focuses on: (1) stepwise methods; (2) context specificity; (3) weights and structure coefficients; (4) reliability as a characteristic of scores and not…

Asserts that editors should declare their expectations publicly and expose the rationale for editorial policies to public scrutiny. Supports effect size reporting and the reporting of score reliabilities. Argues against stepwise methods. Also discusses the interpretation of structure coefficients and the use of confidence intervals. (SLD)

Replies to Bruce Thompson's positions on research methodology and editorial policy, addressing each of these issues in the ongoing discussion: (1) structure coefficients; (2) stepwise regression; (3) test reliability; (4) effect sizes; and (5) meta-analysis. (SLD)

Discusses the reliability of technology products that support knowledge management, particularly in higher education. Presents a conceptual framework for knowledge management technology, evaluates available software products, concludes that most products perform poorly, and offers recommendations for knowledge management strategies. (LRW)