bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Explaining Patterns of Offending across the Life Course: Comments on Interactional Theory and Recent Tests Based on the RYDS-RIS Data
Authors: Lauritsen Janet L.
Published: October 2005

This article assesses “interactional theory” and recent developmental research based on that theory. The author argues that the unique contributions of interactional theory would be enhanced by greater formalization of the theory and comparisons of the theory's hypotheses to other developmental and criminological theories. Patterns of offending across the life course would be better understood if more longitudinal data sets were made accessible to investigators with other perspectives and areas of expertise.
Explaining When Arrests End for Serious Juvenile Offenders: Comments on the Sampson and Laub Study
Authors: Robins Lee N.
Published: October 2005

This article comments on the article by Sampson and Laub in this issue. It congratulates them on locating and interviewing at approximately age seventy a large proportion of the survivors of the Glueck and Glueck (1968) study. It also points out problems, some resulting from the impact of privacy regulations. Other problems arose from the age of the subjects at follow-up, resulting in half being already deceased; from askingmento explain their desistance from crime, when they may not understand it themselves; and from the methods of testing childhood predictors of desistance. The study results apply only to serious juvenile delinquents and cannot be assumed to generalize to crime in general, including that which begins later and includes white-collar criminals. Preliminary studies to serve as the basis for such a broad approach are suggested.
Making Sense of Crime and the Life Course
Authors: Osgood D. Wayne
Published: October 2005

This article reflects on the progress of research on developmental and life-course criminology, comments on the status of some unresolved issues, and offers recommendations for the future. The first sections relate these articles and the current status of the field to two themes from the criminal careers debate of the 1980s and 1990s: generalization versus disaggregation as approaches to advancing science and continuous versus categorical conceptions of variation in criminal careers. The article also discusses the use of the growth curve models that are so prominent in developmental and life-span research, emphasizing the aspects of change that they do and do not capture, pointing out implications of that limitation for the need for expanding theories andmodels of change, and explaining the simple steps needed to enhance growth curve models to accomplish that purpose.
What Has Been Learned from Group-Based Trajectory Modeling? Examples from Physical Aggression and Other Problem Behaviors
Authors: Nagin Daniel S. , Tremblay Richard E.
Published: October 2005

The focus of this article is group-based trajectory modeling. Its purpose is threefold. The first is to clarify the proper statistical interpretation of a trajectory group. The second is to summarize some key findings on the developmental course of aggression and other problem behaviors that have emerged from the application of group-based trajectory models and that in the authors' judgment are important to the fields of developmental criminology and developmental psychopathology. The third is to lay out some guidelines on the types of problems for which use of group-based trajectory modeling may be particularly productive.
When Prediction Fails: From Crime-Prone Boys to Heterogeneity in Adulthood
Authors: Sampson Robert J. , Laub John H.
Published: October 2005

The authors respond to the commentaries of Michael Gottfredson and Lee Robins on their article “A Life-Course View of the Development of Crime.” They delve further into the effect of marriage on crime, potential problems with sampling and research design, and how their data speak directly to related hypotheses and theories.
Notes on Theory Construction and Theory Testing: A Response to Osgood and Lauritsen
Authors: Thornberry Terence P.
Published: October 2005

The author's article on interactional theory and on intergenerational models presented at the Albany Symposium received comments from Wayne Osgood and Janet Lauritsen. They raised several issues concerning theory construction, empirically testing developmental and intergenerational models, and collecting longitudinal data. The present article responds to those issues, continuing the discussion of life-course theories of crime begun at the symposium.
An Overview of the Symposium and Some Next Steps
Authors: Blumstein Alfred
Published: October 2005

This article identifies some overarching issues raised at the Albany Symposium on Developmental Criminology, with particular focus on important issues in conflict. In developing theory in this very complex area, there is tension between a parsimonious theory with a limited number of constructs and richer description that tries to capture more critical features. It seems that one concept is too limiting. The debate over the benefits of identifying subgroups in a population will depend on the analytical context; those groups can be identified empirically (say, by trajectory analysis) or a priori theoretical conceptualization. There is a need for greater interaction across the variety of rich data sets and scholars' perspectives that could be facilitated with greater data sharing, particularly by bringing in new methodological skills. Also, there is a need for a developmental criminology forum to address some common agreed-upon questions with several of the rich data sets represented at the symposium.
Further Reflections on Modeling and Analyzing Developmental Trajectories: A Response to Maughan and Raudenbush
Authors: Nagin Daniel S. , Tremblay Richard E.
Published: October 2005

In this article, the authors respond to the Raudenbush and Maughan commentaries elsewhere in this volume. Stephen Raudenbush's principal criticism of the groupbased trajectory model is that it reifies the idea that people follow a small number of immutable trajectories of behavior. This criticism reflects a fundamental misunderstanding of the statistical role of trajectory groups. Trajectory groups describe the trajectory of behavior that has actually occurred; that behavior is not reified but real. There is nothing in a trajectory group model that asserts the behavior pattern is permanent, that no intervention can change it, or that it will continue beyond the time period of the observed data. The question of whether a group-based trajectory model or a hierarchal linear model can provide a better statistical representation of change is an empirical rather than philosophic question. The answer will undoubtedly be context-specific. Barbara Maughan's comments were cast as reflections froma developmental psychopathology perspective. The authors are in complete agreement with Maughan's observations about the importance of using diverse methods in studying developmental psychopathology and of unpacking the developmental trajectories of the constituent components of antisocial behavior. The authors would only add that the developmental origins of these behaviors should be studies from as early in life as possible.
The Information Function for the One-Parameter Logistic Model: Is it Reliability?
Authors: Doran Harold C.
Published: October 2005

The information function is an important statistic in item response theory (IRT) applications. Although the information function is often described as the IRT version of reliability, it differs from the classical notion of reliability from a critical perspective: replication. This article first explores the information function for the one-parameter model in detail and suggests an alternative method for its computation. Second, the difference between the IRT and classical test theory standard errors of measurement is discussed.
The Risk of Adverse Impact in Selections Based on a Test with Known Effect Size
Authors: Corte Wilfried De , Lievens Filip
Published: October 2005

The authors derive the exact sampling distribution function of the adverse impact (AI) ratio for single-stage, top-down selections using tests with known effect sizes. Subsequently, it is shown how this distribution function can be used to determine the risk that a future selection decision on the basis of such tests will result in an outcome that reflects the presence of AI. The article therefore provides test and selection practitioners with a valuable tool to decide between alternative selection predictors.
Parallel Analysis with Unidimensional Binary Data
Authors: Weng Li-Jen , Cheng Chung-Ping
Published: October 2005

The present simulation investigated the performance of parallel analysis for unidimensional binary data. Single-factor models with 8 and 20 indicators were examined, and sample size (50, 100, 200, 500, and 1,000), factor loading (.45, .70, and .90), response ratio on two categories (50/50, 60/40, 70/30, 80/20, and 90/10), and types of correlation coefficients (phi and tetrachoric correlations) were manipulated. The results indicated that parallel analysis performed well in identifying the number of factors. The performance improved as factor loading and sample size increased and as the percentages of responses on two categories became close. Using the 95th and 99th percentiles of the random data eigenvalues as the criteria for comparison in parallel analysis yielded higher correct rate than using mean eigenvalues.
Translation of the Marlowe-Crowne Social Desirability Scale into an Equivalent Spanish Version
Authors: Collazo Andrés A.
Published: October 2005

A Spanish version of the Marlowe-Crowne Social Desirability Scale (MCSDS)was developed by applying a method derived from the cross-cultural and psychometric literature. The method included five sequenced studies: (a) translation and back-translation, (b) comprehension assessment, (c) psychometric equivalence study of two mixed-language versions, (d) analysis of items flagged for differential item functioning, and (e) psychometric study of the Spanish version. The method used was effective in obtaining an equivalent Spanish version of the MCSDS. Seven of 33 items were identified that functioned differently in the English and Spanish versions. Causes of this differential functioning were hypothesized by a bilingual committee, and revisions were suggested. The translated version has similar psychometric characteristics as those reported for the original English scale. Some progress was made in elucidating the factor structure of the scores of the instrument.
Comparing the Construct and Criterion-Related Validity of Ability-Based and Mixed-Model Measures of Emotional Intelligence
Authors: Livingstone Holly A. , Day Arla L.
Published: October 2005

Despite the popularity of the concept of emotional intelligence(EI), there is much controversy around its definition, measurement, and validity. Therefore, the authors examined the construct and criterion-related validity of an ability-based EI measure (Mayer Salovey Caruso Emotional Intelligence Test [MSCEIT]) and a mixed-model EI measure (Emotional Quotient Inventory [EQ-i]) using a military sample. Confirmatory factor analyses indicated that the four-factor model for the MSCEIT, but not the five-factor model for the EQ-i, fit well. MSCEIT and EQ-i scores were modestly intercorrelated. Gender was related only to the MSCEIT’s Emotional Perception scale scores. EQ-i scores, but not MSCEIT scores, tended to be strongly related to scores on measures assessing personality, self-monitoring ability, job satisfaction, and life satisfaction. The EQ-i also accounted for incremental variance in job and life satisfaction, after controlling for personality. Overall, cognitive ability scores were unrelated to EQ-i scores and slightly related to two of the MSCEIT scale scores.
Assessing the Reliability of the Beck Anxiety Inventory Scores
Authors: De Ayala R. J. , Vonderharr-Carlson D. J. , Kim Doyoung
Published: October 2005

Anxiety is one of the most pervasive symptoms seen in clinical psychological disorders. The Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) is a popular measure to assess the construct of anxiety. This study was concerned with an examination of potential study factors that are associated with the variability of the reliability estimates of the BAI scores. A review of the literature involving the BAI showed that more than 57% of the publications either did not mention reliability estimates for BAI scores or presented secondary reliability estimates. This meta-analysis of coefficient alpha and test-retest reliability estimates showed that diagnostic classification of participants and the within-study BAI score variability were related to the magnitude of the reliability estimates.
The Relevance of Rules to a Critical Social Science
Authors: Wisnewski J. Jeremy
Published: October 2005

The aim of this article is to argue for a conception of critical social science based on the model of constitutive rules. The author argues that this model is pragmatically superior to those models that employ notions like “illusion” and “ ideology,” as it does not demand a specification of the “real (but hidden) interests” of social actors.
Historical Materialism and Supervenience
Authors: Farrelly Colin
Published: October 2005

In this article I put forth a new interpretation of historical materialism titled the supervenient interpretation. Drawing on the insights of analytical Marxism and utilizing the concept of supervenience, I advance two central claims. First, that Marx's synchronic materialism maintains that the superstructure supervenes naturally on the economic structure. Second, that diachronic materialism maintains that the relations of production supervene naturally on the forces of production. Taken together, these two theses help bring to the fore the central tenets of historical materialism. Furthermore, they help resolve what I call the problem of reductionismand the problem of verification.
Back to the Drawing Board
Authors: Agassi Joseph
Published: October 2005

Within ontology new theories are extremely rare. Hacking bravely claims to have one: “historical ontology” or “dynamic nominalism.” Regrettably, he uses “nominalism” idiosyncratically, without explaining it or its qualifier. He does say what historical ontology is: it is “the presentation of the history of ontology in context.” This idea is laudable, as it invites presenting idealism as once attractive but no longer so (due to changes in perception theory, for example). But this idea is a proposal, not a theory, muchless an ontological theory, as it does not say what things are made of. Also, Hacking's details are often misleading. Thus, he falsely hints that he respects Wittgenstein and that he agrees with him. Considered as a study of ontology sans its (often amusing) incidental material, it appears surprisingly thin and repetitious. The study is either excessively opaque or quite clear but stale: the choice between these options is open.
Self-in-a-Vat: On John Searle's Ontology of Reasons for Acting
Authors: Kaufmann Laurence
Published: October 2005

John Searle has recently developed a theory of reasons for acting that intends to rescue the freedom of the will, endangered by causal determinism, whether physical or psychological. To achieve this purpose, Searle postulates a series of “gaps” that are supposed toendowthe self with free will. Reviewing key steps in Searle's argument, this article shows that such an undertaking cannot be successfully completed because of its solipsist premises. The author argues that reasons for acting do not have a subjective, I-ontology but a first-person plural, Weontology that better accounts for agency and responsibility.
Mapping Social Distance
Authors: White Michael J. , Kim Ann H. , Glick Jennifer E.
Published: October 2005

The increasing diversity of immigrant-receiving countries calls for measures of residential segregation that extend beyond the conventional two-group approach. The authors represent simultaneously the relative social distance occupied by a wide array of ethnic groups. They use census tract tabulations for the Toronto Consolidated Metropolitan Area in 1996 and the technique of multidimensional scaling to summarize the residential neighborhood pattern of the city’s largest 50 ethnic groups. From the two-dimensional multidimensional scaling configuration, the authors find that African/Caribbean groups and blacks were highly clustered and shared common patterns of segregation with other groups. This study highlights the value of looking beyond broad racial or panethnic classifications in understanding ethnic congregation and residential segregation patterns. The results also demonstrate the merits of this method in providing a more conceptually meaningful way to understand social distance among groups.
The Effect of Skewness and Kurtosis on Mean and Covariance Structure Analysis
Authors: Yuan Ke-Hai , Bentler Peter M. , Zhang Wei
Published: October 2005

The maximum likelihood (ML) method, based on the normal distribution assumption, is widely used in mean and covariance structure analysis. With typical nonnormal data, the ML method will lead to biased statistics and inappropriate scientific conclusions. This article develops a simple but informative case to show how ML results are influenced by skewness and kurtosis. Specifically, the authors discuss how skewness and kurtosis in a univariate distribution affect the standard errors of the ML estimators, the covariances between the estimators, and the likelihood ratio test of hypotheses on mean and variance parameters. They also describe corrections that have been developed to allow appropriate inference. Enough details are provided so that this material can be used in graduate instruction. For each result, the corresponding results in the higher dimensional case are pointed out, and references are provided.
Participatory Survey Research
Authors: Parrado Emilio A. , McQuiston Chris , Flippen Chenoa A.
Published: October 2005

This article outlines a research strategy for studying difficult-to-reach migrant populations that combines community collaboration, targeted random sampling, and parallel sampling in sending and receiving areas. The authors describe how this methodology was applied to the study of gender, migration, and HIV risks among Hispanic migrants in Durham, North Carolina. They illustrate the usefulness of community collaboration for informing survey design and providing a contextual understanding of research findings. They likewise demonstrate the importance of parallel sampling and assess the bias that would have resulted from conducting their study with convenience samples as opposed to a targeted random sampling technique. While the authors describe its application to HIV risks among Hispanic migrants, the methodology can easily be extended to other migrant groups as well as to other sensitive topics pertaining to migration and social adaptation.
FTY720, a Novel Immunomodulator in de Novo Kidney Transplant Patients: Pharmacokinetics and Exposure‐Response Relationship
Authors: Skerjanec Andrej , Tedesco Helio , Neumayer Hans‐H. , Cole Edward , Budde Klemens , Hsu Chyi‐Hung , Schmouder Robert
Published: October 2005

The pharmacokinetics, safety, and preliminary efficacy of FTY720, a novel immunomodulator, were examined in de novo renal transplant patients. Both noncompartmental and population methods were used to estimate pharmacokinetic estimates in the patients. The steady‐state plasma concentrations of FTY720 increased in accordance with maintenance dose level, indicating linearity in clearance and volume of distribution over the 0.25‐ to 2.5‐mg dose range. The pharmacokinetics of FTY720 in de novo renal transplant patients were characterized by the long terminal phase half‐life of approximately 200 hours across doses, high volume of distribution (>3000 L), and low clearance (10.8 L/h). The intersubject variation of clearance was 55%, and the intrasubject variation of FTY720 concentrations was 28%. The population analysis revealed significant positive relationships between baseline alkaline phosphatase and clearance, as well as between baseline body weight on apparent volume of distribution. There was no relationship between FTY720 concentrations within a given FTY720 dose cohort and the rate of allograft rejection.
Pharmacokinetics of Long‐Acting Naltrexone in Subjects With Mild to Moderate Hepatic Impairment
Authors: Turncliff Ryan Z. , Dunbar Joi L. , Dong Qunming , Silverman Bernard L. , Ehrich Elliot W. , Dilzer Stacy C. , Lasseter Kenneth C.
Published: October 2005

Long‐acting naltrexone is an extended‐release formulation developed with the goal of continuous naltrexone exposure for 1 month for the treatment of alcohol dependence. The influence of mild and moderate hepatic impairment on naltrexone pharmacokinetics following long‐acting naltrexone 190‐mg administration was assessed. Subjects with mild (Child‐Pugh grade A) and moderate (Child‐Pugh grade B) hepatic impairment (n = 6 per group) and matched control subjects (n = 13) were enrolled. Naltrexone and 6β‐naltrexol concentrations were determined over a period of 63 days following a single intramuscular dose. Naltrexone and 6β‐naltrexol concentrations were detected in all subjects through 28 days. Total exposure (AUC0‐∞) of naltrexone and 6β‐naltrexol was similar across all groups. The long apparent half‐lives of naltrexone and 6β‐naltrexol (5–8 days) were attributed to the slow release of naltrexone (long‐acting naltrexone exhibits absorption rate‐limited elimination or “flip‐flop” kinetics); elimination was not altered in subjects with hepatic impairment. Based on pharmacokinetic considerations, the dose of long‐acting naltrexone does not need to be adjusted in patients with mild or moderate hepatic impairment.
Comparative Study of Taste Disturbance by Losartan and Perindopril in Healthy Volunteers
Authors: Tsuruoka Shuichi , Wakaumi Michi , Araki Nobutaka , Ioka Takashi , Sugimoto Kohichi , Fujimura Akio
Published: October 2005

The aim of this study was to compare the degree of taste disturbance by losartan, an angiotensin II receptor blocker, with that of perindopril, an angiotensin‐converting enzyme inhibitor. Perindopril erbumine (2 mg), losartan potassium (25 mg), or vehicle was given to Japanese volunteers (n = 7) for 14 days in a randomized, placebo‐controlled, 3‐way crossover design with a 14‐day washout period. Gustometry by filter‐paper test and electrogustometry were performed before and at the end of each trial. Plasma renin activity (PRA) and serum and salivary zinc concentrations were measured. One subject dropped out because of a perindopril‐induced dry cough, but no one claimed a taste disturbance. Detection thresholds of 4 basic tastes (sweet, salty, sour, and bitter) by the paper‐disc test and electrogustometry were significantly worsened, and plasma renin activity was elevated by the drugs, whereas the deteriorating effects of 2 drugs did not significantly differ. These drugs did not affect zinc concentrations in plasma and saliva. It was concluded that losartan and perindopril similarly alter taste sensitivity during repeated dosing of the drugs.
Pharmacokinetics of Pradefovir and PMEA in Healthy Volunteers After Oral Dosing of Pradefovir
Authors: Lin Chin‐chung , Xu Christine , Teng Alice , Yeh Li‐Tain , Peterson Janet
Published: October 2005

The pharmacokinetics of pradefovir and adefovir, 9‐(2‐phosphonylmethoxyethyl) adenine (PMEA), was evaluated in healthy male volunteers after oral dosing of pradefovir (10, 30, or 60 mg). Pradefovir was absorbed rapidly. The maximum serum concentration, the area under the concentration‐time curve between 0 and 96 hours after dosing (AUC0–96), and the area under the plasma concentration versus time curve from time 0 to infinity (AUC0‐∞) of pradefovir and PMEA increased with the dose of pradefovir. The ratio of PMEA to pradefovir for AUC0–96and AUC0‐∞ranged from 1.4 to 1.8. Renal clearance of pradefovir (18–31 L/h) increased with the dose of pradefovir and was greater than glomerular filtration. The fraction of total body clearance due to renal clearance was low (0.045 to 0.083), suggesting that metabolic clearance played a significant role in the clearance of pradefovir in man. In addition, an evaluation of the food effect was conducted at the 30‐mg dose. The results indicate that food intake has no effect on the extent of exposure of pradefovir and PMEA but may decrease the rate of systemic availability of PMEA.
The Effect of CYP2D6 Polymorphisms on Dextromethorphan Metabolism in Mexican Americans
Authors: Casner Paul R.
Published: October 2005

CYP2D6 is one of the most polymorphic of the cytochrome P450 enzymes. Genetic differences in this enzyme have been reported in whites, blacks, and Asians. However, there is very little information about polymorphisms of this enzyme in Mexican Americans. The objectives of the present study were to assess the metabolic activity of CYP2D6 in a Mexican American population using dextromethorphan and to correlate this metabolic activity with a genotypic analysis. The sample consisted of 50 Mexican American subjects and 25 non–Mexican American controls. Overnight urine samples were collected and analyzed by high‐performance liquid chromatography to calculate the metabolic ratio of dextromethorphan to dextrorphan. Blood samples were collected for genotypic analysis of CYP2D6 alleles. The frequency of the poor metabolizer phenotype was the same in the Mexican American group and the non–Mexican American group (6% vs 5.5%). The frequency of alleles in the Mexican American group was similar to frequencies published in other reports for non‐Hispanic whites: *4 = 0.17, *5 = 0.02, *10 = 0.01, *17 = 0.02, *xN = 0.03. These results indicate that compared with non‐Hispanic whites, Mexican Americans have a similar proportion of poor metabolizer phenotype and similar genetic polymorphisms of CYP2D6.
Clonazepam Pharmacokinetics: Comparison of Subcutaneous Microsphere Injection With Multiple‐Dose Oral Administration
Authors: Greenblatt David J. , Blaskovich Philip D. , Nuwayser E. S. , Harmatz Jerold S. , Chen Gengsheng , Zinny Miguel A.
Published: October 2005

Nine healthy volunteers participated in a 3‐phase clinical pharmacokinetic study of the benzodiazepine derivative clonazepam. During phases I and II, subjects received the conventional oral dosage form of clonazepam, 0.5 mg 3 times daily, for 7 days. Multiple plasma samples were drawn on day 1 and day 7 of the trial and once daily during the washout period after the final dose. Based on nonlinear regression, mean kinetic variables for clonazepam were: absorption half‐life, 24 minutes; elimination half‐life, 40 hours; apparent oral clearance, 72 mL/min. The extent of accumulation at steady state relative to the first day of treatment averaged 3.3‐fold, and was consistent with values predicted based on the elimination half‐life. This finding suggests that once‐daily dosage with clonazepam would be appropriate for many patients. In phase III of the study, subjects received a single 2.7 mg subcutaneous injection of a microsphere formulation of clonazepam, designed to produce a sustained‐release profile. The maximum average plasma clonazepam concentration was 3.0 ng/mL, reached at 72 hours after dosage. Thereafter, plasma concentrations fell slowly over the 13‐day sampling period, remaining above 1 ng/mL for 12 days. Overall systemic availability of clonazepam from the microsphere injection, relative to the conventional oral dosage form, was 1.05. Thus, the microsphere preparation of injectable clonazepam provides complete absorption from the injection site, with the intended slow‐release pharmacokinetic profile.
Pharmacogenetic Principles in the Hippocratic Writings
Authors: Sykiotis Gerasimos P. , Kalliolias George D. , Papavassiliou Athanasios G.
Published: October 2005

Twenty‐five centuries after Hippocrates, we are at the beginning of an era of individualized, molecular, and genomic medicine, where diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment will be increasingly based on our understanding of the human organism's genetic and molecular composition. The most difficult task in this process has proven to be the application of the scientific advancements to the clinical setting, and clinical pharmacology is an essential discipline in this translational process. This article traces the roots of the emerging personalized and genome‐based medicine to the teachings of Hippocrates.
Relating Computer, Communication, and Computer-Mediated Communication Apprehensions to New Communication Technology Use in the Workplace
Authors: Scott Craig R. , Timmerman C. Erik
Published: October 2005

This study explores three issues regarding the use of multiple workplace communication technologies: the relationships between distinct forms of apprehension (computer, communication, and writing) and use, the relative contribution of computer-mediated communication (CMC) apprehension for predicting use, and changes in these relationships over time. A trend study, which consisted of the collection of data from two samples (N= 205) separated by a 5-year interval, suggests full or partial support for the hypotheses involving computer and communication apprehension. Although apprehension levels remain stable, usage frequency changed for several of the technologies examined—resulting in stronger relationships between apprehensions and those technologies for which use has changed the most in the past 5 years. Most notably, a new measure of CMC apprehension generally predicts communication technology use—especially text-based and conferencing tools—more strongly than do more traditional apprehension types.
Rethinking the Target Corollary
Authors: Meirick Patrick C.
Published: October 2005

This study examines the effects of social distance, perceived exposure, and perceived predispositions on perceived media effects for desirable and undesirable health messages. It finds support for the effect social distance as traditionally measured; that is, groups that are more socially distant from the self, like the public, are perceived to be more affected by cigarette ads than close groups, such as friends. However, individual measures of respondents' social distance from any given comparison group generally are unrelated to perceived effects on the group. The influence of a group's perceived exposure on perceived message effects is confirmed for cigarette ads but not for desirable messages. Perceived attitudes of comparison groups toward message-relevant behaviors emerge as a factor that deserves inclusion in models of perceived effects.
A Q3 Statistic for Unfolding Item Response Theory Models: Assessment of Unidimensionality With Two Factors and Simple Structure
Authors: Habing Brian , Finch Holmes , Roberts James S.
Published: October 2005

Although there are many methods available for dimensionality assessment for items with monotone item response functions, there are few methods available for unfolding item response theory models. In this study, a modification of Yen's Q3 statistic is proposed for the case of these nonmonotone item response models. Through a simulation study, the method demonstrates some promise for use as a test of the hypothesis of unidimensionality and local independence. A positive bias seems to occur in some cases, however. The new statistic appears to have properties that would also make it useful in the construction of dissimilarity measures for use in clustering and multidimensional scaling algorithms. A real data analysis is also provided to demonstrate how the proposed methods could be used in practice.
Computerized Adaptive Testing With the Partial Credit Model: Estimation Procedures, Population Distributions, and Item Pool Characteristics
Authors: Gorin Joanna S. , Dodd Barbara G. , Fitzpatrick Steven J. , Shieh Yann Yann
Published: October 2005

The primary purpose of this research is to examine the impact of estimation methods, actual latent trait distributions, and item pool characteristics on the performance of a simulated computerized adaptive testing (CAT) system. In this study, three estimation procedures are compared for accuracy of estimation: maximum likelihood estimation (MLE), expected a priori (EAP), and Warm's weighted likelihood estimation (WLE). Some research has shown that MLE and EAP perform equally well under certain conditions in polytomous CAT systems, such that they match the actual latent trait distribution. However, little research has compared these methods when prior estimates of. distributions are extremely poor. In general, it appears that MLE, EAP, and WLE procedures perform equally well when using an optimal item pool. However, the use of EAP procedures may be advantageous under nonoptimal testing conditions when the item pool is not appropriately matched to the examinees.
Assessing Equating Results on Different Equating Criteria
Authors: Tong Ye , Kolen Michael J.
Published: October 2005

The performance of three equating methods— the presmoothed equipercentile method, the item response theory (IRT) true score method, and the IRT observed score method—were examined based on three equating criteria: the same distributions property, the first-order equity property, and the second-order equity property. The magnitude of the difficulty differences in the alternate forms was found to affect the extent to which the three equating properties hold. The Iowa Tests of Basic Skills (ITBS) standardization data and simulated data were analyzed in the study. The results showed that when the raw score distributions of alternate forms are similar, all three methods lead to adequate equating regardless of the criterion used. When the raw score distributions are dissimilar, to preserve the first order equity property, the IRT true score method performs best; to preserve the same distributions and second order equity properties, the equipercentile method and the IRT observed score method both perform well. The greater the difficulty difference between alternate forms, the less likely the first and second order equity properties hold. These results are intended to inform equating practice by suggesting, for actual equatings, the size of form-to-form differences that can lead each equating method to perform well and poorly relative to the various criteria.
Propensity Scores
Authors: Luellen Jason K. , Shadish William R. , Clark M. H.
Published: October 2005

Propensity score analysis is a relatively recent statistical innovation that is useful in the analysis of data from quasi-experiments. The goal of propensity score analysis is to balance two non-equivalent groups on observed covariates to get more accurate estimates of the effects of a treatment on which the two groups differ. This article presents a general introduction to propensity score analysis, provides an example using data from a quasi-experiment compared to a benchmark randomized experiment, offers practical advice about how to do such analyses, and discusses some limitations of the approach. It also presents the first detailed instructions to appear in the literature on how to use classification tree analysis and bagging for classification trees in the construction of propensity scores. The latter two examples serve as an introduction for researchers interested in computing propensity scores using more complex classification algorithms known as ensemble methods.
The Effect of Family Size on Incentive Effects of Welfare Transfers in Two-Parent Families
Authors: Lewin Alisa C. , Maurin Eric
Published: October 2005

Family size is an important determinant of family well-being, and it is a good predictor of poverty. This study examines effects of waiving the 100-hour rule, by family size, and distinguishes between the “work-incentive effects” and the “eligibility effects” of the waiver. The 100-hour rule limits eligibility to aid to two-parent families in which the principal earner is unemployed or underemployed (works fewer than 100 hours per month). The study uses data from the Link-Up randomized experiment, conducted in California’s Central Valley, from 1992 to 1994. The findings show that the eligibility effect of the waiver does not differ by family size, but the work-incentive effect does.
Interest Group Influence on State Administrative Rule Making
Authors: Woods Neal D.
Published: October 2005

In many states, administrative rules are subject to review by elected political officials in the legislative and/or executive branches. Using recently developed measures of state rule review powers, this study investigates whether they serve to enhance or diminish interest group influence on the content of agency regulations. It finds that both greater gubernatorial and legislative rule review authority significantly decrease the amount of interest group influence reported by state agency directors. These results provide evidence that powers of external rule review may serve to counteract the effects of subsystem policy making.
Membership Balance, Open Meetings, and Effectiveness in Federal Advisory Committees
Authors: Karty Kevin D.
Published: October 2005

This article attempts to measure the determinants of federal advisory committee (FAC) effectiveness, with special focus on membership balance and meeting openness. Although these two topics have dominated the legal literature on FACs, no study has provided quantitative estimates of their impact on committees. This article fills the gap by analyzing data from a General Accounting Office survey of committee members in 1998, and supplements this with evidence from individual interviews. It concludes that openness predictably impairs perceived committee effectiveness but that balanced membership improves perceived committee effectiveness. Moreover, it finds these effects comparable in magnitude to other major administrative variables that affect perceived committee effectiveness.
Red Tape and Public Managers' Decision Making
Authors: Turaga Rama Mohana R , Bozeman Barry
Published: October 2005

Whereas past studies have examined organizational red tape in terms of either particular organizational processes, time required to fulfill organizational functions, or Managers'perceptions, our research anchors red-tape constructs in the context of particular decisions. Using data from a mail questionnaire survey of public managers in state health and human services organizations, the study hypothesizes that public Managers'assessments of the red tape in decisions is a function of degree of external control, number of participants in decisions, the reversibility of decisions, “risk culture,” and especially the decision content. After using multiple regression to control for possible spurious relationships, the results suggest a two-factor explanation; specifically, assessments of the red tape in decisions are accounted for by the organization's level of hierarchy (more hierarchical organizations have more red tape in decisions) and by the particular content of the decisions.
What Drives Nonprofit Entrepreneurship?
Authors: Leroux Kelly M.
Published: October 2005

Using survey data from a small sample of nonprofit agencies in the Detroit metropolitan area, this article examines the rate at which nonprofits adopt earned income strategies. For the purpose of this analysis, efforts to generate earned income are described as “entrepreneurial” and measured through product sales, enterprise development, and assessing fees for services. A number of factors are thought to influence the adoption of these activities, including budget cuts from government sources, declining revenues from private donors, board composition, staff hours devoted to marketing and public relations activities, having a secular orientation, and agency size. Findings indicate that larger organizations and those experiencing reductions in funding from government are more likely to adopt entrepreneurial measures. Organizations with a religious affiliation and those experiencing declines in private contributions are also more inclined to pursue these approaches.
Professionals and the Conflicting Forces of Administrative Modernization and Civic Engagement
Authors: Nalbandian John
Published: October 2005

Local government professionals find themselves in the middle of two dynamic forces: administrative modernization and citizen engagement. Attention to one without recognition of the other renders governance ineffective. The key to effective professionalism in local governance is bridging the gaps in governance that these two trends create.
Rural and Urban Differences in the Commission of Animal Cruelty
Authors: Tallichet Suzanne E. , Hensley Christopher
Published: October 2005

Despite the recent surge in society's interest in human violence, relatively few studies have been conducted examining the closely related phenomenon of animal cruelty. Although several researchers have begun to identify some of the correlates of animal cruelty, few have attempted to understand how differences in the backgrounds of rural and urban residents have led to their abuse of animals. Using survey data from261 inmates, the authors investigate how demographic, familial differences and species type have contributed to the frequency of acts of animal cruelty. In general, early exposure to animal abuse is a strong predictor of the subsequent behavior. However, rural inmates learned to be cruel by watching family members exclusively, whereas urban inmates learned from family members and friends. Moreover, urban inmates chose dogs, cats, and wild animals as their target animals; however, rural inmates chose only cats.
Exploring the Type-of-Crime Hypothesis, Religiosity, and Spirituality in an Adult Male Prison Population
Authors: Fernander Anita , Wilson John F. , Staton Michele , Leukefeld Carl
Published: October 2005

This study examined the association between measures of spirituality and religiosity and characteristics of current criminal conviction in a male prison population. Spirituality was operationalized as spiritual well-being and existential well-being. Religiosity was operationalized as frequency of religious service attendance, whether an individual considered himself to be religious, and how strongly an individual believed his religious beliefs influenced his behavior. Inmates whose convictions were property related reported greater spiritual wellbeing, were more likely to consider themselves religious, and to say that religious beliefs influenced their behavior than inmates whose crimes were not property related. Inmates whose convictions were drug related were less likely to consider themselves religious, and inmates whose conviction involved violence were more likely to consider themselves religious but less likely to endorse statements that religious beliefs influenced their behavior. The distinction between religiosity and spirituality is discussed in terms of the type-of-crime hypothesis.
Learning to Pass: Sex Offenders' Strategies for Establishing a Viable Identity in the Prison General Population
Authors: Schwaebe Charles
Published: October 2005

This article endeavors to illustrate the realities of prison life for sex offenders and the means by which they attempt to establish viable identities and acquire a survivable niche in the prison general population, particularly when established identities and protective niches are put at risk by entry into a sex offender treatment program. Qualitative data was collected by repeatedly interviewing a cohort of sex offenders for 6 months as they completed a basic sex offender treatment program. The findings indicate a need to include consideration of treatment context in understanding the limits of treatment gain in prison-based programs.
Ethnicity, Gender, and Global Risk Indicators in the Lives of Status Offenders Coming to the Attention of the Juvenile Court
Authors: Gavazzi Stephen M. , Yarcheck Courtney M. , Lim Ji-Young
Published: October 2005

The present study examined the risks and needs of status offenders in comparison to an at-large juvenile court sample, with specific attention paid to factors related to gender and ethnicity. Status offenders displayed significantly higher risk scores than the comparison sample in domains associated with both family and parenting concerns and educational concerns. In addition, females displayed higher risk levels than males and White youth displayed significantly higher risk levels than minority youth across a wide variety of risk domains. Further analyses were conducted regarding the participation of African American males and females in a program designed as an alternative to detention. For both groups, successful program completion was accompanied by little or no further court involvement, whereas failure to complete the program was related to a variety of negative outcomes. However, African American females and males successfully completing programrequirements displayed different risks and needs at the outset of their participation.
Aggression and Anxiety in Rapists and Child Molesters
Authors: Shechory Mally , Ben-David Sarah
Published: October 2005

This study expands the empirical and theoretical understanding of the distinction between those who perpetrate sexual assaults against children (child molesters) and those who perpetrate them against adults (rapists). Two questionnaires were completed by 88 incarcerated, male sexual offenders (45 child molesters and 43 rapists): the Spielberger state trait anxiety inventory and the Buss-Durkee hostility inventory. It was found that the rapists' level of aggression was significantly higher than that of the child molesters. No significant differences in anxiety levels were found between the two groups. The results are discussed in terms of their relevance to theory and clinical practice.
Imaginary Widows: Spinsters, Marriage, and the “Lost Generation” in Britain after the Great War
Authors: Holden Katherine
Published: October 2005

This article argues that the status of spinster was associated with widowhood in the decades after the First World War in Britain, an association that is still active in our collective memory. Widely publicized census statistics suggesting that a whole generation of young men perished during the war led to the beliefs that an accompanying generation of women had lost lovers and fiancés, would be unable to marry, and were therefore deprived of the chance of leading “normal,” happy lives. Drawing upon a range of sources, including census statistics, fiction, poetry, autobiography, and oral history, the author examines the consequences of these beliefs for unmarried women in the context of a society that privileged marriage and nuclear families with male breadwinners and dependent wives over all other family formations.
“Yea, I have a Goodly Heritage”: Health Versus Heredity in the Fitter Family Contests, 1920-1928
Authors: Boudreau Erica Bicchieri
Published: October 2005

By the 1920s, the future of the middle-class family had become a topic of great concern for mainstream Americans. This widespread concern led to a new acceptance of the discussion of sexual and marital issues in print and in public. Within this public discussion, eugenicists, physicians, clerics, sociologists, and various others offered solutions to the questions and concerns of their rapidly changing society. The Fitter Family contests, sponsored by eugenicists and held at state fairs in the 1920s, reflected these public and professional anxieties. Though infused with eugenic ideas about race betterment through better breeding, the contests were equally concerned with improving the health of individuals and strengthening American families.