bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Children's ability to restore the referential cohesion of stories
Authors: Hickmann Maya , Schneider Phyllis
Published: March 2007

Children's ability to restore discourse cohesion was examined in three experiments. Children of 5, 7 and 10 years heard stories containing referring expressions that constituted inappropriate first or subsequent mentions of referents from the point of view of story cohesion. They were asked to retell these stories (Experiment I), to repeat verbatim some clauses extracted from them on line (Experiment II), as well as to actively detect and judge anomalies on line (Experiment III). Children's retellings and their integrative repetition errors in Experiments I and II show that they could modify inappropriate expressions into appropriate ones at all ages, despite age differences suggesting an increasing tendency to link NPs in discourse after 5 years. In comparison, only the 10-year-olds could explicitly comment on anomalies in Experiment III. In conclusion, children show a surprisingly early ability to restore cohesion, an increasingly automatized reliance on discourse context with age, and a late metalinguistic awareness of the cohesive functions of different noun phrase types.
Developmental relationships between production and comprehension of mental terms
Authors: Moore Chris , Furrow David , Chiasson Lorraine , Patriquin Maria
Published: March 2007

Mental terms, including belief and desire terms, were studied in a sample of 14 mother-child pairs longitudinally when the children were 2;0, 3;0, and 4;0 in order to examine the acquisition of these terms. Percentage use of utterances involving belief and desire terms in naturalistic interactions were calculated for each subject. In addition, children at 4;0 were tested for comprehension of the distinctions between the belief terms know, think and guess, using a task designed to assess the understanding of the expression of relative certainty. Results showed an interlocking of mothers' use of belief terms, children's use of desire and belief terms, and children's comprehension of belief terms. Children's use of desire terms at 2;0 was related to their use of belief terms at 3;0 and their comprehension of belief terms at 4;0, perhaps reflecting their developing theory of mind. Maternal use of belief terms when their children were 2;0 was significantly related to their children's concurrent use of desire terms, and significantly predicted their children's use of belief terms both one and two years later. Mothers' use of belief terms at 2;0 also predicted their children's comprehension of belief terms at 4;0. These results are consistent with a picture of maternal linguistic scaffolding of their children's developing theory of mind.
Measures of linguistic and non-linguistic knowledge of objects in the second year
Authors: Shore Cecilia , Dixon Wallace E. , Bauer Patricia J.
Published: March 2007

In comparing linguistic to non-linguistic categorization in children, researchers have typically considered children's ability to distinguish between classes from different superordinate categories. In this research we compared categorization of objects from basic level categories in both linguistic and non-linguistic domains. This study also added the additional control of using the same specific concepts in each domain. The sample consisted of 24 children at 21 months of age. Linguistic comprehension of the labels for the test categories exceeded, but was correlated with, linguistic production of the same category labels. Neither linguistic measure was associated with corresponding measures of temporal grouping of objects from the same categories. The validity of the measures was attested to by the finding that all three measures correlated significantly with several other measures of linguistic development. Particularly interesting was the finding that children with a 'referential style' of language engaged in higher levels of temporal grouping. This finding suggests that relations between linguistic and non-linguistic categorization are mediated by conceptual style.
Cohesive anaphoric relations in French children's narratives as a function of mutual knowledge
Authors: Hickmann Maya , Kail Michèle , Roland Françoise
Published: March 2007

This study examines how French children of 6, 9, and 11 years use referring expressions for reference maintenance in narratives elicited in two situations: children and their interlocutor were looking at a picture book together (mutual knowledge) or the inter locutor was blindfolded (no mutual knowledge). Local coreference has a strong impact on the selection of pronouns (coreferential) vs. nominals (non-coreferential) at all ages and in both situations. However, children from 9 years on produce more pronouns in the absence of mutual knowledge and the extent to which children mark story structure varies as a function of age and situation. Regardless of situation, 6-year-olds mark boundaries across successive pictures (external structure) and episodes (internal structure) by means of nominals. Although a similar pattern can be observed at other ages in the mutual knowledge condition, it gradually disappears with increasing age in the absence of mutual knowledge. It is concluded that discourse-internal functions of referring expressions are a late development characterized by the increasing impact of coreference, which gradually overrides other factors, as children learn to rely maximally on discourse cohesive relations in the absence of mutual knowledge.
How to say 'Grandma': the problem of developing phonological representations
Authors: Jaeger Jeri J.
Published: March 2007

Theories of early child phonology disagree as to the form of representations in children's lexicons; this issue is made more complex by the unusual patterns that some children display. Data are presented from one child, 1;6 to 2;0, who formed three idiosyncratic hypotheses: (1) she developed a template for word shapes which consisted of [CVCN] with loud nasal plosion; (2) she treated English as if it had distinctive tone; (3) she developed an anterior-posterior obstruent ordering constraint which in some cases involved metathesis. It is argued: first that the [CVC N] template had its origins in her favourite babbling patterns; second, that treating English as a tone language originated in her reliance on the pitch cue for lexical stress in adult models; and third, that the metathesis pattern was based on a production strategy whereby segments which are simpler to produce are located at word onsets. It is shown that an 'enriched single-lexicon' model is optimal for characterizing this child's phonological representations.
A longitudinal study of early mother-infant interaction and later language competence
Authors: Saxon Terrill F.
Published: March 2007

Twenty-four mother-infant dyads participated in a longitudinal study of interaction at 6 and 8 months and language competence at 17 and 24 months. Interaction was coded for mothers' use of verbal references to objects as following or redirecting and joint attention. Language competence was measured by the MacArthur CDI. Joint attention at 6 months was positively correlated with later language competence; no 8-month correlations were found. Surprisingly, maternal verbal redirections were positively correlated with joint attention at 6 and 8 months. These findings suggest that joint attention is important with respect to language at an earlier age than previously thought and that early joint attention is not frustrated by maternal redirection as is the case during second year interaction.
Effect of pictorial versus oral story presentation on children's use of referring expressions in retell
Authors: Schneider Phyllis , Dubé Rita
Published: March 2007

Young children have been found to use referring expressions less adequately than older children to introduce and maintain reference to characters and objects in their stories. Indirect evidence suggests that this tendency may be stronger when children look at pictures as they retell stories; they may tend to presuppose shared knowledge of information in pictures, even when the listener clearly cannot see the pictures. The present study is an investigation of the effects of presenting stories pictorially versus orally on children's use of adequate reference.

Retellings of stories by 44 children in Kindergarten and Grade 2 were compared when they were presented: (a) orally, (b) through pictures, and (c) both orally and pictorially. An oral version was created for each of 3 picture sets, representing a single complete episode with 2 characters. Oral versions were controlled for length, story units, and language level. Within-subject comparisons revealed main effects for both presentation type and age, and an interaction. The younger children used a higher percentage of adequate reference in the oral-only than the picture-only condition. Older children used high percentages of adequate reference in all conditions. Thus it appears that older children can use referring expressions equally adequately whether they hear stories or view pictures, while younger children do not use adequate reference when they only view pictures and must formulate the story themselves.
Language in the Reception Class: A Pilot Project in Northern Ireland
Authors: Whyte Jean , Whyte Jean
Published: March 2007

The author gives a fascinating and informative description of a classroom intervention programme in, quoting her final comments, "a context of serious deprivation, financial stringency, and other troubles. It is hoped the re sults... might be encouraging to all ... who have an interest in children's welfare and a belief that it may be advanced if the will and the energy are there."
Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy Part I: Sensorimotor Neuropathy
Authors: Broadstone Vasti L. , Greene Douglas A. , Cyrus Jahangir , Pfeifer Michael A.
Published: March 2007

Diabetic neuropathy, defined as objective evidence of neural im pairment accompanied by discern ible symptoms, is a common complication of diabetes. Pathologically it is considered a "dying back " neuropathy in which the distal portions of the neurons are first and more severely affected. Both vascular and metabolic hypotheses have been advanced for its patho genesis. Diabetic sensorimotor neuropathy has two subclasses: focal and distal symmetrical polyneuropathy. Signs and symp toms, complications, and guide lines for treatment are listed for the different syndromes. Current research includes investigations of the possible preventive and therapeutic roles of glycemic control and specific therapeutic agents.
Implementation of Continuous Subcutaneous Insulin Infusion Therapy: An Overview
Authors: Farkas-Hirsch Ruth , Levandoski Lucya.
Published: March 2007

Continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion (CSII) devices are designed to provide physiologic insulinemia. Not only do they offer increased life-style flexi bility, they also make it possible to achieve near-normal levels of glycemia. These devices are programmed to deliver a continuous "basal" infusion. Preprandial bolus doses of insulin are given to prevent postprandial hyperglycemia. Careful patient screening and selection are necessary to ensure a successful outcome. Patients must have the maturity, technical ability, motivation, and financial resources needed to utilize CSII therapy. Initiation of CSII can be accomplished in an outpatient or inpatient setting, but both require a comprehensive educational curriculum.
Chronic Poor Metabolic Control in the Pediatric Population: A Stepwise Intervention Program
Authors: Gray Deborah L. , Marrero David G. , Godfrey Carolyn , Orr Donald P. , Golden Michaelp.
Published: March 2007

Improving metabolic outcomes in children and adolescents with IDDM who are in chronically poor metabolic control is one of the most difficult tasks confronting health care providers. These patients have clinical histories characterized by recurrent episodes of diabetic ketoacidosis and the persistance of acute disease symptoms. Complex psychosocial factors play a critical role in the genesis of chronic poor control, and patients are often resistant to standard interventions. To guide treatment of these difficult patients, we have developed a stepwise intervention program that addresses psycho social issues and provides strategies for improving metabolic control. The steps include documentation of patient response to insulin and the correction of educational deficiencies, defining and renegotiating the family care role, confronting families' inappropriate perceptions of care, and legal interventions. Previous evaluation has shown that appli cation of this approach can nearly eliminate recurrent episodes of diabetic ketoacidosis.
Lighting a Lamp for Persons Who Are Visually Challenged
Authors: Cleary Margaret E. , Fahy Christopher
Published: March 2007

This paper is an outgrowth of an investigation to (1) identify persons with diabetes mellitus who manifest varying degrees of self-destructive behavior, (2) compile a list of dangerously negative self-management practices observed in the person who is visually challenged, (3) outline a comprehensive diabetes skills update designed to restore self-esteem, and (4) suggest to the rehabilitation worker and the diabetes educator ways to enhance instruction. The paper lists behaviors that may cause deadly harm to persons visually challenged by diabetes mellitus, requiring careful observation by the diabetes educator. A case report shows that numerous teaching opportunities arise from analyzing self-care skills that are lost due to vision pathology.
The Rowdy Reactors: Maintaining a Support Group for Teenagers With Diabetes
Authors: Crowe Lynn , Billingsley Joyce I.
Published: March 2007

A successful support group for teenagers with type I diabetes requires more than informational lectures and discussions. Active learning by doing and the client's feeling of being in control are important. Attempts at gaining control require development of self-image, group solidarity, and the ability to communicate with nondiabetic peers and parents. Here is how one group did it.
Diet Counseling in a Multicultural Society
Authors: Kittler Pamela Goyan , Sucher Kathrynp.
Published: March 2007

Successful diet counseling is dependent on culturally sensitive communication strategies. Health care practitioners can improve cross-cultural counseling through a four-step process. First, they must become familiar with their own cultural heritages. Second, they must become acquainted with the cultural background of each client. Third, through an in-depth cross-cultural interview, they must establish the client's cultural background, food habit adapta tions made in the United States, and personal preferences. Fourth, they must modify diets based on unbiased analysis of the dietary data. The best chance for compliance occurs when diets are modified with consideration for client's cultural and personal preferences.
Management of a Patient With Insulin-Dependent Diabetes Mellitus Learning Biofeedback-Assisted Relaxation
Authors: Bailey Barbara K. , McGrady Angele V. , Good Marion
Published: March 2007

Psychological stress can have profound disruptive effects upon glycemic control in individuals with diabetes. Presented here is a case study in which biofeedback- assisted relaxation techniques were used to help a young woman with a 10-year history of insulin- dependent diabetes mellitus to more effectively manage stress, thereby improving glycemic control. Hypoglycemia is a frequently encountered problem with this technique, so the patient was taught to identify causes of hypoglycemic episodes and to take action to prevent their occur rence. The team approach of a diabetes nurse educator working in conjunction with a biofeedback therapist was vital to the success of this program.
Clinical Evaluation of the Impact of a Patient Education Program
Authors: Garrard Judith , Mullen Lucy , Ostrom Joynes Judy , McNeil LeANN , Etzwiler Donnell D.
Published: March 2007

A 5-day patient education program, taught on an outpatient basis, was evaluated to determine its effect on metabolic control as reflected by glycosylated hemoglobin test values. A quasi- experimental design was used, consisting of a pretest, a posttest, and a follow-up assessment made approximately 6 months after the posttest. The 72 experimental and 324 comparison subjects all had insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM), were between 14 and 78 years of age, and had a duration of diabetes ranging from 1 to 20 years. The experimental group demonstrated a statistically significant improvement in Hb A1 values from pre- to posttest and sustained these posttest levels upon follow-up, although not at statistically significant levels. The comparison group showed no pre- to posttest difference, but demon strated an improvement from posttest to follow-up assessment.
Issues in the Care of Infants and Toddlers With Insulin-Dependent Diabetes Mellitus
Authors: Kushion Wendy , Salisbury Patricia J. , Seitz Kathleen W , Wilson Bruce E.
Published: March 2007

Infants and children in the preschool age group who have insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus present a unique set ofproblems to the health care provider and to their families. These management issues include difficulty in achieving maximal metabolic control; the limited ability of the child to communicate feelings and needs; a significant financial burden to many young families; and the increased family stress and altered psychodynamics seen in families with very young children with chronic illnesses. The lability of diet, exercise, emotions, and overall life-style seen in this age group exacerbates each of these problems markedly. This paper addresses the challenges that these children present; discusses the issues and controversies; and describes how the Diabetes Clinic at Michigan State University uses a combination of methodologies and disciplines to deal with these problem areas.
A Brief Overview of Diabetes Mellitus and Exercise
Authors: ARMSTRONG JOHN J.
Published: March 2007

While exercise has not been shown to provide long-term improvements in blood glucose control, it has been shown to delay or prevent secondary conditions associated with diabetes. Exercise also offers significant psychological gains by allowing both IDDM and NIDDM patients to participate in normal recreational or competitive activities. A properly designed exercise prescription begins with the education of the patient, including a thorough understanding of the effects of exercise, the demand it places on the metabolic processes, and the necessary adjustments that must be made to maintain normoglycemia. A stress test is a recommended preliminary.
Oral Contraception and Adolescent Women With Insulin-Dependent Diabetes Mellitus: Risks, Benefits, and Implications for Practice
Authors: Betschart Jean
Published: March 2007

Healthcare providers who work with adolescents with diabetes are in an ideal position to provide education and support regarding contraceptive issues. Diabetes educators and other health professionals who counsel teens focus on other aspects of diabetes care and management but frequently do not address sexual issues or assess contraceptive practices. The purpose of this paper is to review oral contraceptive issues for teens with diabetes and to provide practice implications for health professionals who are in a favorable position to influence the quality of diabetes and general health care for these adolescents.
Hypertension Education: An Important and Neglected Part of the Diabetes Education Curriculum?
Authors: Hinson Janet , Riordan Kathy , Hemphill Donna , Randolph Carol , Fonseca Vivian
Published: March 2007

This review highlights the important role of hypertension education in reducing the impact of hypertension on the development and progression of diabetes-related complications. Hypertension is commonly associated with diabetes mellitus and can significantly affect the progression of the complications of diabetes. Lifestyle changes similar to those recommended for diabetes management can result in a lowering of blood pressure and can be maintained on a long- term basis to benefit patients with diabetes and mild hypertension. Recently, a team approach in a hypertension clinic model similar to the team approach for diabetes treatment was shown to be effective in diabetes management. Increased awareness of hypertension education may contribute greatly to reducing the complications of diabetes. Hypertension education should be an important component of the diabetes education curriculum.
Metabolic Control, Quality of Life, and Negative Life Events: A Longitudinal Study of Well-Controlled and Poorly Regulated Patients With Type 1 Diabetes After Changeover to Insulin Pen Treatment
Authors: Wikby A. , Stenström U. , Andersson P-O. , Hörnquist JO
Published: March 2007

In a previous study of a group of 74 patients with Type 1 diabetes, quality of life was found to be consistently enhanced a year after transition to multiple injection therapy with the insulin pen, whereas metabolic control

(HbA1c ) only improved moderately. The aim of the present investigation was to examine quality of life, recent life events, and metabolic control longitudinally in this original study group over a 5-year period beginning I year after transition to the insulin pen. Multiple analysis of variance with a repeated-measures design was used to analyze the data longitudinally and compare metabolic control in subgroups of well-controlled and poorly regulated patients during the study period. For the group as a whole, quality of life was found to change only moderately, whereas metabolic control deteriorated significantly across time following transition to the insulin pen. The two subgroups exhibited distinct differences, however, in quality of life, recent life events, and metabolic control patterns. These findings are discussed in terms of the clinical suitability of a multiple injection regimen.
Theory, Experiment and the Shifting Publication Scene in Personality and Social Psychology
Authors: Kruglanski Arie W.
Published: March 2007

Recent shifts in the publication scene are interpreted to signify a restoration of the theoretical emphasis and a decline of the empiricism that has characterized personality and social psychology in the 50's and the 60's. It is contended that the empiricist creed may have obstructed scientific progress, and that the modi operandi of personality and social psychologists need to change.
Judging Physical Attractiveness: Effects of Judges' Own Attractiveness
Authors: Tennis Gay H. , Dabbs James M.
Published: March 2007

Judges rated the physical attractiveness of others from pho tographs and were themselves photographed and rated on phy sical attractiveness. Male and female judges gave similar ratings to attractive targets, but when rating unattractive targets, male judges showed assimilation effects and female judges showed contrast effects. Assimilation produces a pos itive correlation between judge's own attractiveness and at tractiveness ratings assigned to others; contrast produces a negative correlation between judges' own attractiveness and attractiveness ratings assigned to others. Sex of the per sons being rated had no effect. Data were graphically pre sented as 3-dimensional surfaces generated by a computer mapping program.
Social Psychology as History and as Traditional Science: An Appraisal
Authors: Hendrick Clyde
Published: March 2007

Gergen (1973) presented the thesis that social psychology is primarily an historical inquiry. The implications of his paper are very significant for the status of social psychology as a scien tific discipline. In defense of traditional science Schlenker (1974) presented a strong rebuttal, focussing on five major issues; the nature of theoretical abstractness, the search for regularity, open systems, the conditional nature of scientific propositions, and the uniqueness of events. The present paper considers the Gergen- Schlenker debate within the context of these five issues. The analyses indicate that Schlenker's rebuttal arguments are not de finitive, and that Gergen's thesis still awaits a decisive answer.
The Incentive Value of Physical Attractiveness for Young Children
Authors: Dion Karen K.
Published: March 2007

To test the hypothesis that from an early period of social development physical attractiveness has reward properties, young children were individually observed at a task where they illuminated a slide of either a physically attractive or unattractive stimulus child. As predicted, subjects made more stimulus exposures in the attractive versus the unattractive condition. Also, females made more stimulus exposures than males, suggesting that at least certain classes of social stimuli have greater incentive value for females.
Physical Continuity and Trait Inference: A Test of Mischel's Hypothesis
Authors: Kassin Saul M.
Published: March 2007

An experiment was conducted to test Mischel's (1968) hypo thesis that peoples' persistent beliefs in behavioral consistency and traits is facilitated by the fact of constancy in physical character istics. Sixty subjects were presented with a description about and photographs of a stimulus person. In one condition, the set of pic tures depicted physical continuity, and in a second condition, the pictures illustrated discontinuity in physical appearance. Results supported Mischel's hypothesis: Subjects viewing stability in appear ance rated the stimulus person as more consistent in his behavior and ascribed more traits to him than subjects in the discontinuity condi tion.
Effect of Rape Victim's Attractiveness in a Jury Simulation
Authors: Thornton Billy
Published: March 2007

The present study tested the hypothesis that a rape victim's physical attractiveness would differentially influence the decisions of simulated jurors. The implications of previous research on this premise were two-fold: (1) greater attractiveness would provide an attractive victim with greater advantages or (2) greater attractiveness would serve to the victim's disadvantage. Assessment of victim credibility and re sponsibility concerning the incident was not influenced by victim attrac tiveness. Punishment of the assailant, however, was affected by attrac tiveness with a longer sentence given when an attractive woman was con cerned. Sex bias was noted only in assessment of guilt and sentencing with females tending to convict more often while males provided longer sentences.
What Is Intelligent, As Well As Attractive, Is Good
Authors: Solomon Susan , Saxe Leonard
Published: March 2007

One reason that physical attractiveness affects per son perception judgments is that it is easily available informa tion. It was hypothesized that when another characteristic, such as intelligence is made apparent, that it will evoke a stereo type similar to that evoked by attractiveness. A videotaped stimulus person, whose level of intelligence and attractive ness were manipulated, was rated by 68 subjects. The findings suggest that impressions are formed on the basis of all available information, rather than being primarily influenced by physical appearance, as previous studies have implied.
Stylistic Components of Human Judgment: The Generality of Individual Differences
Authors: Ramanaiah Nerella V. , Goldberg Lewis R.
Published: March 2007

In an effort to discover the generality of individual differences in judgmental processes, 12 potential styles were assessed from the predictions made by 86 judges across two or four replications of each of four judgmental tasks. The analyses focused on the internal consistency (across replica tions, within occasions), temporal stability (across occasions, within tasks), and intertask congruence of each of the judgmental variables. The findings suggested that five variables—linear predictability, judgmental consistency, subjective complexity, dif ferentiation, and confidence—have sufficiem generality to assume the provisional status of judg mental styles. Highly significant relationships were found, for male though not for female judges, be tween each of the provisional styles and a number of personological and demographic variables, in cluding scales from the MMPI, CPI, EPPS, and SVIB.
Some Properties of a Bayesian Adaptive Ability Testing Strategy
Authors: McBride James R.
Published: March 2007

Four monte carlo simulation studies of Owen's Bayesian sequential procedure for adaptive mental testing were conducted. In contrast to previous simulation studies of this procedure which have concentrated on evaluating it in terms of the corre lation of its test scores with simulated ability in a normal population, these four studies explored a number of additional properties, both in a normally distributed population and in a distribution-free context. Study 1 replicated previous studies with finite item pools, but examined such properties as the bias of estimate, mean absolute error, and cor relation of test length with ability. Studies 2 and 3 examined the same variables in a number of hypo thetical infinite item pools, investigating the effects of item discriminating power, guessing, and vari able vs. fixed test length. Study 4 investigated some properties of the Bayesian test scores as latent trait estimators. The properties of interest included the conditional bias of the ability estimates, the infor mation curve of the trait estimates, and the rela tionship of test length to ability level. The results of these studies indicated that the ability estimates de rived from the Bayesian testing strategy were highly correlated with ability level. However, the ability es timates were also highly correlated with number of items administered, were non-linearly biased and provided measurements which were not of equal precision at all levels of ability.
Effects of Immediate Knowledge of Results and Adaptive Testing on Ability Test Performance
Authors: Betz Nancy E.
Published: March 2007

This study investigated the effects of immediate knowledge of results and adaptive testing on per formance on a computer-administered test of verbal ability. Examinees were administered either a 50- item conventional test or an adaptive test of verbal ability; half the subjects in each group received im mediate knowledge of results (KR) concerning the correctness/incorrectness of each item response, while the other half did not. Subjects within high- and low-ability subgroups were assigned randomly to one of the four resulting experimental condi tions. The dependent variable was maximum likeli hood ability estimates derived from item response patterns. Results indicated that for the high-ability group, mean test scores under KR conditions were significantly higher than were those under no-KR conditions on both the conventional and adaptive tests. Within the low-ability group, mean test scores were higher under KR conditions than under no- KR conditions, but the difference was statistically significant only within the conventional testing strategy. Low-ability examinees achieved higher average test scores on the adaptive test than on the conventional test, while high-ability examinees per formed equally well on the adaptive and conven tional tests.
A Comparison of Models for Detecting Discrimination: An Example from Medical School Admissions
Authors: Rindskopf David , Everson Howard
Published: March 2007

Detecting bias in admissions to graduate and professional schools presents important problems to the data analyst. In this paper some traditionally used methods, such as multiple regression analysis, are compared with the newer methods of logistic regres sion and structural equations models. The problems faced in modeling decision rules in this situation are (1) a dichotomous dependent variable, (2) nonlinear relationships between independent variables and the probability of being admitted, (3) omitted variables, and (4) errors in variables. Each method used involves an attempt to solve one or more of these problems, but each has its own drawbacks. Using multiple meth ods, and finding several areas of agreement in the re sults among the methods, makes the conclusions stronger than had only one method been used.
A Comparison of Internal, External, and Successive Unfolding Based on Occupational Judgments
Authors: Brannick Michael T. , Hahn June
Published: March 2007

Successive unfolding is a recently developed tech nique that appears to have advantages over traditional unfolding techniques. To assess its usefulness, succes sive, internal, and a type of external unfolding were compared with regard to the stimulus configurations recovered, the fit of the models as a whole, the fit of individual subjects, and each model's stability in a cross-validation sample. The data were obtained from judgments of similarity of and preference for occupa tional titles. Internal unfolding yielded degenerate so lutions and was dropped from subsequent analyses. External and successive unfolding yielded interpretable dimensions, but the nature of the dimensions uncov ered differed somewhat from one type of unfolding to the other. Both types of unfolding fit the data ade quately for the stimulus configuration, though succes sive unfolding appeared to fit better. The first two di mensions of both models were well reproduced in cross-validation samples. Dimensions beyond the sec ond were more easily cross-validated using external unfolding. Successive unfolding proved superior to ex ternal unfolding in representing preference data as in dicated by the fit of ideal points. Successive unfolding appears a viable method in unfolding research.
Methodology Review: Principles, Procedures, and Findings in the Application of Background Data Measures
Authors: Mumford Michael D. , Owens William A.
Published: March 2007

This paper provides a review and critique of the background data literature. As a life history measure, the effective application of background data items is based on a developmental strategy in which a pattern of prior behavior and experiences is related to certain forms of criterion performance. This principle pro vides a framework for discussing the various issues in volved in generating an adequate pool of background data items. The four principal methods for scaling background data items are examined: rational scaling, factorial scaling, empirical keying, and subgrouping. The relative strengths and weaknesses of these four techniques are considered along with current research needs in each area. This review indicates that substan tial progress has been made in the development and application of background data measures, but that al ternatives to the traditional empirical keying strategy should receive more attention.
The Correction for Restriction of Range and Nonlinear Regressions: An Analytic Study
Authors: Gross Alan L. , Fleischman Lynn E.
Published: March 2007

The effect of a nonlinear regression function on the accuracy of the restriction of range correction formula was investigated using analytic methods. Expressions were derived for the expected mean square error (EMSE) of both the correction formula and the squared correlation computed in the selected group, with re spect to their use as estimators of the population rela tionship. The relative accuracy of these two estimators was then studied as a function of the form of the regression, the form of the marginal distribution of x scores, the strength of the relationship, sample size, and the degree of selection. Although the relative ac curacy of the correction formula was comparable for both linear and concave regression forms, the correc tion formula performed poorly when the regression form was convex. Further, even when the regression is linear or concave, it may not be advantageous to employ the correction formula unless the xy relation ship is strong and sample size is large.
Standard Errors of Item Parameter Estimates in Incomplete Designs
Authors: de Gruijter Dato N. M.
Published: March 2007

Lord and Wingersky (1985) derived the asymptotic variance-covariance matrix for item and person param eters in item response models, using maximum likeli hood estimation. Their results can be used in incom plete designs, in which different test forms with common subtests are administered to different groups of examinees. It is also possible to estimate the accu racy of various designs beforehand, which enables the researcher to select the best of several designs under consideration. The possibilities are demonstrated for the one- and two-parameter models. Index terms: Asymptotic standard errors, Incomplete designs, Item banking, Information matrix, Maximum likelihood, Rasch model, Two-parameter logistic model.
Anomalies in the Allen and Hubbard Parallel Analysis Procedure
Authors: Cota Albert A. , Longman R. Stewart , Holden Ronald R. , Fekken G. Cynthia
Published: March 2007

Allen and Hubbard (1986) increased the accessi bility of parallel analysis for principal components applications by developing an equation to predict mean eigenvalues of random data matrices with unities in the diagonals. Two recent studies have shown, however, that Allen and Hubbard's proce dure may yield degenerate solutions—that is, solu tions in which succeeding eigenvalues are larger than preceding eigenvalues. The parameters of sample size and number of variables within which the Allen and Hubbard equation degenerates are documented. Implications for the use of this procedure are discussed.
The Effect of Numbers of Experts and Common Items on Cutting Score Equivalents Based on Expert Judgment
Authors: Norcini John , Shea Judy , Grosso Louis
Published: March 2007

The effect of different numbers of experts and common items on the scaling of cutting scores derived by experts' judgments was investigated. Four test forms were created from each of two examinations; each form from the first examina tion shared a block of items with one form from the second examination. Small groups of experts set standards on each using a modification of Angoff's (1971) method. Cutting score equivalents were estimated for the matched forms using dif ferent group sizes and numbers of common items; they were compared with cutting score equivalents based on score equating. Results showed that a reduction in error is associated with using more experts or having more items in common between the two forms. For 25 or more common items and five or more judges, the error was about one item on a 100-item test. More than five experts or 25 common items made only a very small difference in error.
Using the Extreme Groups Strategy When Measures Are Not Normally Distributed
Authors: Fowler Robert L.
Published: March 2007

The extreme groups research strategy is a two- stage measurement procedure that may be employed when it is relatively simple and inexpen sive to obtain data on a psychological variable (X) in the first stage of investigation, but it is quite complex and expensive to measure subsequently a second variable (Y). This strategy is related to the selection of upper and lower groups for item dis crimination analysis (Kelley, 1939) and to the treatments x blocks design in which participants are first "blocked" on the X variable and then only the extreme (highest and lowest means) blocks are compared on the Y variable, usually by a t test or an analysis of variance. Feldt (1961) showed analytically that if the population correlation coefficient between X and Y is p = .10, the power of the t test is maximized if each extreme group consists of 27% of the population tested on the X variable. However, Feldt's derivation assumes that the X and Y variables are normally distributed. The present study employed a monte carlo simulation to explore the question of how to optimize power in the extreme groups strategy when sampling from non-normal distributions. The results showed that the optimum percent for the extreme group selec tion was approximately the same for all population shapes except for the extremely platykurtic (uniform) distribution. The power of the extreme groups strategy under conditions of normality was com pared to the power of other research strategies, and an extension of the extreme groups approach was developed and applied in an example. Index
Standard Errors of A Chain of Linear Equatings
Authors: Lingjia Zeng  , Hanson Bradley A. , Kolen Michael J.
Published: March 2007

A general delta method is described for computing the standard error (SE) of a chain of linear equatings. The general delta method derives the SEs directly from the moments of the score distributions obtained in the equating chain. The partial derivatives of the chain equating function needed for computing the SEs are de rived numerically. The method can be applied to equatings using the common-items nonequivalent populations design. Computer simulations were con ducted to evaluate the SEs of a chain of two equatings using the Levine and Tucker methods. The general delta method was more accurate than a method that as sumes the equating processes in the chain are statisti cally independent. Index terms: chain equating, delta method, equating, linear equating, standard error of equating.
Monte Carlo Studies in Item Response Theory
Authors: Harwell Michael , Stone Clement A. , Hsu Tse-Chi , Kirisci Levent
Published: March 2007

Monte carlo studies are being used in item response theory (IRT) to provide information about how validly these methods can be applied to realistic datasets (e.g., small numbers of examinees and multidimensional data). This paper describes the conditions under which monte carlo studies are appropriate in IRT-based re search, the kinds of problems these techniques have been applied to, available computer programs for gen erating item responses and estimating item and exam inee parameters, and the importance of conceptualizing these studies as statistical sampling experiments that should be subject to the same principles of experimen tal design and data analysis that pertain to empirical studies. The number of replications that should be used in these studies is also addressed.
Three Approaches to Evaluation Research
Authors: RAFTER DAVID O.
Published: March 2007

To reduce the complexity of the research process to manageable levels, evaluators have adopted conceptual models that define the means to be employed and the ends to be served in evaluation research. THe three most common evaluation models are the scientific, interactive, and hybrid. A study of evaluation projects mandated by the Wisconsin legislature revealed that the Hybrid model was most effective in achieving policy planning and policy control utilization, the Interactive approach provided aid to individual utilization, and the Scientific approach produced “nonutilization.”
Microprocessors in communications
Authors: Sweeney G.P.
Published: March 2007

It is argued that the technologies of data processing and telecommunications are now inseparable, and that attempts by agencies such as the U.S. Federal Communications Com mission to define a boundary between the two can only lead to confusion and impede the development of public net works. There has been a rapid growth in the number of private networks, particularly in industrial firms, for various reasons relating to economy and transmission speeds, but also because public switched data transmission networks do not exist. With the imminent start-up of EURONET (which is described in some detail), private network operators will have the choice of moving to public networks, but they will do so only if such networks are more efficient. It is argued that the separation of data from teat, voice and image transmission is not good commercial sense, and that because packet switch ing technology is not suitable for voice or image, digital communication systems are to be preferred. This argument is supported by reference to developments in the U.S.A. and Japan, and to the growth of word processing and the view- data system. Finally the situation in Ireland is discussed, with the conclusion that high-level political decisions are necessary if the country is to take proper advantage of the information economy.
Differences between requested and cited literature in a group of dairy research scientists
Authors: Mendez A. , Blanco C.
Published: March 2007

The citation habits of a group of scientists working in dairy research arc compared with the literature the group has requested. The analysed characteristics lead to the con clusion that the scientitsts able to choose their references from a large quantity of literature broadly scattered in sub jects and countries, select their citations according to their personal criteria.
But what about the cost?
Authors: Turner John
Published: March 2007

The paper examines the relationship between the 'deci sion maker' and the 'information collector' in business, and those characteristics of the decision maker that will affect the style and content of information activities within a commer cial organization. The relationship and its cost implications are discussed under four headings: (a) the decision maker is generally not the same person as the information collector, (b) the decision maker is generally busy, (c) the decision maker is generally in a hurry, and (d) the decision maker has his own motivations.
Information for business — the future of Scotland
Authors: Kennerley J.A.
Published: March 2007

In this paper the author distinguishes between the busi ness manager's task of making decisions and the supervisor's role of monitoring and control, and urges that the former must be aware of the modern business information system. The importance of firms developing an 'Information Demand Structure' is discussed to allow the making of instant com parisons of various courses of action in response to informa tion on events which are outside of their usual planning and which are likely to affect their business.
The foundations of information science
Authors: Brookes Bertram C.
Published: March 2007

The metrical characteristics of information space are compared with those of physical space. An abstract model is used to show that information space is like that of landscapes and skyscapes. As individuals we learn very early to correct the distortions that subjective appearances impose on us but traces of this process are shown by cosmological history. These arguments are supported by other evidence indicating that information quantities should be measured logarithmi cally.
Linguistic and political barriers in the international transfer of information in science and technology
Authors: Michel J.
Published: March 2007

The development of data transmission networks has promo ted the free flow of information between countries, allowing the diffusion of science and technology. Linguistic and political barriers still remain. The paper analyses the growth of the publication in English of scientific and technical matenal over the past ten years and examines some of the proposed solutions to translation. The political conflicts of national information policies together with the need for International co-operation are reviewed, concluding with a case study on the advantages and limitations of Euronet.