bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Diabetes in Urban African Americans. Body Image, Satisfaction With Size, and Weight Change Attempts
Authors: Anderson Lynda A. , Janes Gail R. , Ziemer David C. , Phillips Lawrence S.
Published: March 2007

We developed two gender specific sets of body-size silhouettes for evaluating body image in African Americans; 370 clinic-based adult participants with diabetes were queried on body image, perceptions, current efforts to change weight, and psychosocial variables. Comparisons were made by weight group and sex after classification as overweight or not overweight according to body mass index (BMI). Regardless of sex or weight category, perceived current body size was significantly related to BMI. Both men and women who were classified as overweight selected a desired body size that was significantly smaller than their perceived current size. Men, however, were more likely than women to select a larger desired size relative to their current size. Both men and women expected the dietitian to favor a body size smaller than their own desired size alld felt their designated important adult would choose the same desired size that they selected. Given the importance of cognitive perspectives in understanding weight management, it may be useful to incorporate body image measures into both observational and interventional studies.
Chronic Care: A Need in Search of a System
Authors: Etzwiler Donnell D.
Published: March 2007

Currently, the bulk of our healthcare dollars is being spent on chronic illnesses and their associated complications. Given this use of resources, it is essential to identify, develop, and implement a system of care that is unique to those with long-term health concerns. Effective management of these problems depends largely on patient participation and strategies that are appropriate for the primary delivery site, which is the home. Such concepts are foreign to most current disease-management programs, and years will be required for acceptance and implementation. Quality long-term management requires a systematic, comprehensive system of care that is unique to the needs of both patients and providers. Such a system consists of a series of integrated, interdependent components that will be presented in this article.
Factors That Influence the Decision to Receive Treatment for Proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy
Authors: Reno Philip L. , Arfken Cynthia L. , Heins Joan M. , Fisher Edwin B.
Published: March 2007

Educational messages aimed at health professionals have stressed the importance of regular eye examinations for people with diabetes and the value of early treatment. To investigate whether the messages need to be expanded or tailored in a specific way, we asked people with diabetes (N=37) to describe their reactions to the diagnosis of proliferative diabetic retinopathy and the factors that influenced their decision to seek treatment. The findings reaffirm the importance of the physician's recommendation in pursuing treatment. Furthermore, a constructive response (eg, "knew it had to be taken care of ") to the diagnosis was associated with prior knowledge of the consequences of proliferative diabetic retinopathy. Minimal racial and gender differences were observed. White women reported being influenced by the experiences of others, and African Americans reported being influenced by the diabetes educator. These findings emphasize the importance of providing patient education not only following a diagnosis but also in anticipation of probable complications.
Struggling With Behavior Changes: A Special Case for Clients With Diabetes
Authors: Sullivan Elaine Doherty , Joseph Dayle Hunt
Published: March 2007

Health professionals expect clients with diabetes to change multiple behaviors as a way to decrease the risk of complications of the disease. The purpose of this study was to gain an in-depth understanding of the client's response to lifestyle change expectations. Using the transtheoretical model of change as framework for this study, clients were asked to address the level of difficulty they encountered when making lifestyle changes relating to their diabetes. Ten clients who participated in a taped telephone survey and a videotaped focus group reported that most change was difficult but not impossible. Most clients admitted that maintaining change was a continuing battle. Both the transcripts and focus group revealed a wide variation in the clients' understanding of self-management. It was evident that successful management involves a fairly high level of cognition as well as willingness to change. Successful management involves thinking through and comprehending how diet, exercise, and medication relate to blood glucose levels. This preliminary study will be used as the basis for a more inclusive study that will focus on developing interventions that relate directly to helping clients change behavior.
Feasibility and Use of an Internet Support Service for Diabetes Self-Management
Authors: MrKay H. Garth , Feil Edward G. , Glasgow Russell E. , Brown Jane E.
Published: March 2007

Diabetes self-management is a challenging task due to its complexity and ever-present barriers to self-care. A key issue for patients, providers, and healthcare systems is how to deliver personalized behavioral support in ways that are affordable and can reach most patients. The Internet offers several advantages in this regard because it is available 24 hours a day, low cost, and capable of reaching thousands of patients. Although Internet sites for diabetes support are popular, they have not been evaluated. For this study, a Web site for diabetes self-management that emphasized personalized goal setting, feedback, and social support was developed. Over a 10-week period, 111 different persons logged onto D-NET for a total of 21 046 accesses. Users included persons across a broad age range (up to age 77 years) and duration of diabetes. The most popular areas of the site were the Social Support Conference and the Diabetes Information Pages. User ratings revealed high satisfaction with the service. The Internet has great potential for providing needed support and services for patients with diabetes and other chronic illnesses.
Locus of Control as a Determinant of Information Seeking
Authors: Weiner Michael Jay , Daughtry Timothy
Published: March 2007

Rotter's (1966) internal-external control scale was administered to 182 students enrolled in introductory psychology. The data supported the hypothesis that the amount of task relevant infor mation sought by internals and externals would not differ in situations in which the degree of control was specific, but that internals would seek more information than externals when the degree of control was vague. The hypothesis that subjects who were informed that their outcome depended entirely on their own task performance would seek more information than subjects who were informed that their outcome was a function of chance was not supported.
A Comparison of Low Socio-economic Mexican American Students' and Parents' Attitudes toward College Educationl
Authors: Buys Christian J. , Field Thomas K. , Schmidt Michael M.
Published: March 2007

A sample survey showed that low socio-economic (SES) Mexican American students (N = 70) held favorable attitudes toward college education. Students, however, when compared with their parents, held significantly less favorable attitudes toward college education. That over one-half of the students did not plan on attending college reflected this attitude. The discrepan cy between the students' attitudes and their parents' attitudes was attributed, in large part, to generational differences. The discrepancy between the students' favorable attitudes toward col lege and their hesitancy to enroll in college was attributed, in part, to a growing discontentment with college education. The importance of a student perceiving his home environment as con ducive to education is also discussed.
Social Interaction Observed: Some Approaches to the Analysis of Behavior Streams
Authors: Bakeman Roger , Dabbs James M.
Published: March 2007

Systematic observation of social interaction, noting the presence or absence of predefined behaviors in an ongoing stream of behavior, can result in an overwhelming mass of data. The central thesis of this report is that a few simple conceptual and analytic tools greatly facilitate the handling of such data. Various ways of representing observational data are discussed, and implications are included showing analyses of mother-infant, monkey- monkey, and human adult-adult interaction.
Comment on Environmental and Social Psychology
Authors: Proshansky Harold M.
Published: March 2007

Altman (1976) presented an excellent descriptive exposition of the history and present status of environmental psychology. However, I disagree with Altman about the potential relationships between envir onmental psychology and social psychology. Altman is optimistic that the two disciplines have much to offer each other. For reasons elabo rated in this response, I am pessimistic as to whether social psychology can make any serious contributions to environmental psychology. If the concepts and methods that social psychologists presently employ to study environmental problems are the best they have to offer, I conclude that social psychologists would be well advised to leave the study of environ mental psychology to environmental psychologists.
Transhistorical and Transcultural Theory
Authors: Secord Paul F.
Published: March 2007

The issues in the controversy over "social psychology as history" are seen as resolvable through interdisciplinary work resulting in the development of comprehensive social theory. Such theory must interweave person, situation, social context, and sub cultures into a matrix of interacting structures and processes that cut across time periods.
The Effects of Model Affect on Imitation
Authors: Roberts Michael C. , Santogrossi David A. , Thelen Mark H.
Published: March 2007

The effect of three levels of model affect (positive, neutral, negative) on imitation of a socially neutral modeled behavior was investigated with second grade children and compared with no-model controls. Positive model affect increased imitative performance relative to neutral affect, negative affect and no modeling. Neutral affect subjects did not differ from negative affect subjects in imitative performance. Subjects accurately perceived the affect states as different.
The Relationship Between Instigative Aggression in Females and Sex of the Target of Instigation
Authors: Gaebelein Jacquelyn W.
Published: March 2007

Forty females suggested which shock intensity a partner should set for an opponent in a reaction time competition. Results re vealed subjects with noncooperative partners (i.e., those who refused to use high shocks) suggested less intense shock than subjects with cooperative partners and that aggressive suggestions increased as a function of increasing attack from the opponent when partners were cooperative, but not when uncooperative. However, sex of the partner did not influence instigative aggression.
Interpersonal Attraction and Repeated Exposure to Rewarders and Punishers
Authors: Swap Walter C.
Published: March 2007

An experiment was conducted in an effort to clarify the nature of the relationship between frequency of exposure and interpersonal at traction. Subjects were visually exposed to one another during each trial of a modified prisoner's dilemma game in which subjects' out comes were controlled by the experimenter. The frequency of these visual encounters was varied, as was the nature of the monetary outcomes from the gaming trials (rewards vs. punishments) and the attribution of re sponsibility for these outcomes (partners responsible vs. non-responsi ble). Measures of attraction indicated that, overall, more frequently viewed others were preferred to those less frequently seen. This ex posure effect was most strongly obtained when the other subjects were viewed as personally responsible for delivering rewards, while either no effect or a weak negative exposure effect was found in the responsible- punish condition.
Self-esteem, Attentiveness, and Helping Behavior
Authors: McMillen David L. , Sanders Deborah Y. , Solomon Gary S.
Published: March 2007

False feedback on a personality test was used to pro duce temporary loss in self-esteem. Pilot data indicated a dif ference in self-reported explanations of failure to help; nega tive feedback subjects were significantly more likely than posi tive feedback or no feedback subjects to report not noticing an emergency. In the first experiment negative feedback subjects were found to be significantly less responsive to a white noise than positive and no feedback subjects. In the second exper iment, in addition to the feedback manipulations, half the sub jects were exposed to a helping situation in which the confeder ate called attention to herself by making a slight noise. The remaining half of the subjects were not exposed to a noise. Re sults indicated that the noise manipulation had no effect on helping in the positive and no feedback groups; helping was sig nificantly lower in the negative feedback group when no noise occurred.
One More Look at Social and Environmental Psychology: Away from the Looking Glass and into the Future
Authors: Borden Richard J.
Published: March 2007

This paper examines the social-environmental psychology exchange which has appeared in recent issues of this publication. Specific attention is paid to the overlooked emerging areas of theory and research on the psychology of environmental concern. Over a dozen of these new topic areas are outlined. Finally, it is concluded that social psychologists, perhaps more than any other professional group, have much to offer in designing an environmentally benign future.
Effects of a Third-Party Requestor's Surveillance and Recipient Awareness of Request on Helping
Authors: Enzle Michael E. , Harvey Michael D.
Published: March 2007

The study tested the predictions that (a) donors who believe that a third-party request on behalf of a recipient is known to the recipient will be more generous than donors who believe the recipient is unaware of the request, and (b) donors who believe a third-party requestor will monitor their compli ance will help more than will donors who believe monitoring to be impossible. Both predictions were supported.
Time Pressure and Causal Attributions
Authors: Enzle Michael E. , Harvey Michael D. , Hansen Ranald D.
Published: March 2007

Evidence was obtained which indicates that time pres sure was responsible for the conflicting results reported in two previously published attribution studies. The theoretical sig nificance of time pressure for causal attribution processes was discussed.
The Adorno Legacy
Authors: Buck-Morss Susan
Published: March 2007

Adorno's legacy to social psychology has little to do with the F-Scale of The Authoritarian Personality (1950). Instead, his contribution to this study was the method of qualitative con tent-analysis used in interpreting the interview material. The method can be identified as a dialectical, materialist, hermeneu tics. It construes the statements of respondents as "texts" that must be "deciphered," and emphasizes the way language unintention ally expresses the material structure of social reality. The larg er significance of Adorno's effort to merge science and art is that it begins to reinstate art as a legitimate mode of knowledge while at the same time recognizing the moment of "fantasy" in the proce dures of social science. Implied here is a new alternative to the natural science paradigm, the ideological content and inadequacies of which Adorno and his colleagues at the Frankfurt Institute did so much to expose.
Suppose We Measured Height With Rating Scales Instead of Rulers
Authors: Dawes Robyn M.
Published: March 2007

Staff members of the Psychology Department at the University of Oregon rated each other's height on five rating scales representative of those found in social psychology. When the ratings were aver aged, a very good estimate of true physical height was obtained. Further, factor scores based on all five scales proved to be even better estimates of true height; the correlation between such scores and height in inches was .98.
Using Longitudinal Data to Estimate Reliability
Authors: Blok Henk , Saris Wim E.
Published: March 2007

Werts, Breland, Grandy, and Rock (1980) have analyzed the relationship between a direct and an indi rect measure of writing ability. Werts et al. assumed that the same true score underlies both measures and concluded that the test-retest reliability of the essay tests is biased due to correlated errors. The present analysis of their data shows that the direct and indirect tests measure two different abilities which correlate only .89 with each other and that it is not necessary to include correlated measurement errors for the essay tests. It is argued that the assumption that different tests measure the same ability should always be tested. Werts et al. (1980) did not test this assumption, and their conclusions, as a result, are incorrect.
Some Thoughts on the Use of Decision Theory to Set Cutoff Scores: Comment on de Gruijter and Hambleton
Authors: van der Linden Wim J.
Published: March 2007

In response to an article by de Gruijter and Ham bleton (1984), some thoughts on the use of decision theory for setting cutoff scores on mastery tests are presented. This paper argues that decision theory of fers much more than suggested by de Gruijter and Hambleton and that an attempt at evaluating its poten tials for mastery testing should address the full scale of possibilities. As for the problems de Gruijter and Hambleton have raised, some of them disappear if proper choices from decision theory are made, while others are inherent in mastery testing and will be en countered by any method of setting cutoff scores. Fur ther, this paper points at the development of new tech nology to assist the mastery tester in the application of decision theory. From this an optimistic attitude to wards the potentials of decision theory for mastery testing is concluded.
A Comparison of Several Goodness-of-Fit Statistics
Authors: McKinley Robert L. , Mills Craig N.
Published: March 2007

A study was conducted to evaluate four goodness- of-fit procedures using data simulation techniques. The procedures were evaluated using data generated ac cording to three different item response theory models and a factor analytic model. Three different distribu tions of ability were used, as were three different sam ple sizes. It was concluded that the likelihood ratio chi-square procedure yielded the fewest erroneous re jections of the hypothesis of fit, whereas Bock's chi- square procedure yielded the fewest erroneous accep tances of fit. It was found that sample sizes some where between 500 and 1,000 were best. Shifts in the mean of the ability distribution were found to cause minor fluctuations, but they did not appear to be a major issue.
Common-Person Equating with the Rasch Model
Authors: Masters Geofferey N.
Published: March 2007

Two procedures, one based on item difficulties, the other based on person abilities, were used to equate 14 forms of a reading comprehension test using the Rasch model. These forms had no items in common. For practical purposes, the two procedures produced equivalent results. An advantage of common-person equating for testing the unidimensionality assumption is pointed out, and the need for caution in interpreting tests of common-item invariance is stressed.
Three-Mode Principal Components Analysis of Semantic Differential Data: The Case of a Triple Personality
Authors: Kroonenberg Pieter M.
Published: March 2007

This paper shows how three-mode principal compo nents analysis can be useful for the analysis of seman tic differential ratings, in particular because no sum mation is necessary over any one mode. The use of "joint plots" (a variant of the biplot) and sums-of- squares interpretations is explained and illustrated.
Some Emerging Trends in Psychlolgical Measurement: A Fifty-Year Perspective
Authors: Anastasi Anne
Published: March 2007

Developments in psychological measurement over a 50-year period reveal a growing awareness of the modifiability of human behavior, as exemplified in cross-cultural comparisons, as well as in intergenera tional changes within a single culture. Implications for testing are examined with special reference to the need for considering the context in which test takers devel oped and the contexts in which they are expected to function. Norms are viewed as the test performance of a population at a particular time and place. This orien tation affects the interpretation of test scores. At a more basic level, cohort studies reveal systematic pop ulation changes. Cognitive scores may rise or decline, depending on concomitant societal changes. Progres sive changes in attitudes, self-concepts, and other af fective traits may in turn influence cognitive develop ment. Affective variables may thus serve as intervening variables in the complex chain of events from genes to aptitudes. The traits identified by factor analysis are being increasingly recognized as descrip tive categories for summarizing behavioral consisten cies, rather than as underlying, fixed, causal entities. For testing purposes, this orientation provides flexibil ity in developing and choosing tests that fit the needed level, from highly specific behavioral units, through group factors of intermediate breadth, to such broad factors as scholastic aptitude. From a theoretical view point, the question of factor formation becomes mean ingful, insofar as the very traits into which intelligence becomes organized reflect the influence of individuals' learning histories and the experiential contexts in which they were reared.
Estimating the Validity of a Multiple-Choice Test Item Having k Correct Alternatives
Authors: Wilcox Rand R.
Published: March 2007

In various situations, a multiple-choice test item may have more than one correct alternative, and the goal is to determine how many correct alternatives an examinee actually knows. For a randomly sampled ex aminee, the validity of an item is defined as the prob ability of deciding that the examinee knows i correct alternatives, when in fact exactly i correct alternatives are known. This article describes how latent class models can be used to estimate this probability.
Simple and Weighted Unfolding Threshold Models for the Spatial Representation of Binary Choice Data
Authors: DeSarbo Wayne S. , Hoffman Donna L.
Published: March 2007

This paper describes the development of an unfold ing methodology designed to analyze "pick any" or "pick any/ n" binary choice data (e.g., decisions to buy or not to buy various products). Maximum likeli hood estimation procedures are used to obtain a joint space representation of both persons and objects. A review of the relevant literature concerning the spatial treatment of such binary choice data is presented. The nonlinear logistic model type is described, as well as the alternating maximum likelihood algorithm used to estimate the parameter values. The results of an appli cation of the spatial choice model to a synthetic data set in a monte carlo analysis are presented. An appli cation concerning consumer (intended) choices for nine competitive brands of sports cars is discussed. Future research may provide a means of generalizing the model to accommodate three-way choice data.
Rejoinder to "The Mokken Scale: A Critical Discussion"
Authors: Mokken Robert J. , Lewis Charles , Sijtsma Klaas
Published: March 2007

The nonparametric approach to constructing and evaluating tests based on binary items proposed by Mokken has been criticized by Roskam, van den Wol lenberg, and Jansen. It is contended that their argu ments misrepresent the objectives of this approach, that their criticisms of the role of the H coefficient in the procedures are irrelevant or erroneous, and that they fail to distinguish the inherent requirements (and limitations) of general nonparametric models and pro cedures from those of parametric ones. It is concluded that Mokken's procedures provide a useful tool for re searchers in the social sciences who wish to construct and evaluate tests for measuring theoretically mean ingful latent traits while avoiding the strong parametric assumptions of traditional item response theory.
The Changing Conception of Measurement in Education and Psychology
Authors: van der Linden Wim J.
Published: March 2007

Since the era of Binet and Spearman, classical test theory and the ideal of the standard test have gone hand in hand, in part because both are based on the same paradigm of experimental control by manipula tion and randomization. Their longevity is a conse quence of this mutually beneficial symbiosis. A new type of theory and practice in testing is replacing the standard test by the test item bank, and classical test theory by item response theory. In this paper it is shown how these also reinforce and complete each other.
Correcting Unconditional Parameter Estimates in the Rasch Model for Inconsistency
Authors: Jansen Paul G. W. , van den Wollenberg Arnold L. , Wierda Folkert W.
Published: March 2007

Results of simulation studies indicate that the un conditional maximum likelihood method is commonly regarded as an appropriate substitute for the theoreti cally superior conditional method for estimating the parameters of the Rasch model. To this end, the un conditional estimates are "corrected" by a factor ( K — 1)/ K, where K is the number of items. In this paper, the simulation study of Wright and Douglas (1977b), which seemed to corroborate this correction term, is critically discussed. It appears to contain a puzzling assumption, and to rest on inadequate logic. Accordingly, there is a need for new simulation stud ies on the validity of the correction term ( K — 1)/ K for unconditional maximum likelihood estimation in the Rasch model. Index terms: Item response theory, item parameter estimation; Item response theory, one- parameter logistic model; Maximum likelihood estima tion, unconditional; One-parameter logistic model; Rasch model.
IRT Item Bias Detection Procedures: Issues of Model Misspecification, Robustness, and Parameter Linking
Authors: Lautenschiager Gary J. , Park Dong-Gun
Published: March 2007

This article examines the consequences of employ ing IRT item bias detection procedures with multidi mensional IRT item data. Parameter linking methods used in previous studies of item bias were investigated in a simulation that minimized the need for such link ing. The results illustrate shortcomings of two linking methods that have been employed in IRT item bias de tection studies. The effectiveness of these methods de pended on several factors, including the number of biased items in a fixed-length test, whether bias was against only one group or more than one group, and the correlation between the two latent abilities. The findings indicated that some current IRT-based statisti cal procedures for detecting item bias were not gener ally effective at differentiating biased from unbiased items. Index terms: item bias, item response theory, multidimensional IRT data, parameter linking, reverse bias, statistical artifacts.
Two-Dimensional Configurations of Unidimensional Stimulus Sets in Nonmetric Multidimensional Scaling
Authors: Davison Mark L. , Hearn Marsha
Published: March 2007

When unidimensional stimulus sets are subjected to a nonmetric scaling in two dimensions, the stimuli fre quently form a C- or S-shaped configuration. In simu lated unidimensional data scaled in two dimensions, stimuli formed a C-shaped configuration when the monotone function relating distances to dissimilarity data was negatively accelerating. They formed an S- shaped configuration when the monotone function was positively accelerating. Results suggest that when uni dimensional stimulus sets are scaled in two dimensions using a rational starting configuration, the nature of the two-dimensional configuration can indicate the general form of the function mapping psychological dissimilarity, represented as distance in the scaling model, onto the observed response scale. Index terms: data transformations, multidimensional scaling, paired comparisons, proximity data, unidimensional scaling, unidimensionality.
Bias and the Effect of Priors in Bayesian Estimation of Parameters of Item Response Models
Authors: Gifford Janice A. , Swaminathan Hariharan
Published: March 2007

The effectiveness of a Bayesian approach to the es timation problem in item response models has been sufficiently documented in recent years. Although re search has indicated that Bayesian estimates, in gen eral, are more accurate than joint maximum likelihood (JML) estimates, the effect of choice of priors on the Bayesian estimates is not well known. Moreover, the extent to which the Bayesian estimates are biased in comparison with JML estimates is not known. The ef fect of priors and the amount of bias in Bayesian esti mates is examined in this paper through simulation studies. It is shown that different specifications of prior information have relatively modest effects on the Bayesian estimates. For small samples, it is shown that the Bayesian estimates are less biased than their JML counterparts. Index terms: accuracy, Bayesian estimates, bias, item response models, joint maximum likelihood estimates, priors.
Robustness of Marginal Maximum Likelihoo Estimation in the Rasch odel
Authors: Zwinderman Aeilko H. , van den Wollenberg Arnold L.
Published: March 2007

Simulation studies examined the effect of misspeci fication of the latent ability (θ) distribution on the ac curacy and efficiency of marginal maximum likelihood (MML) item parameter estimates and on MML statistics to test sufficiency and conditional independence. Re sults were compared to the conditional maximum like lihood (CML) approach. Results showed that if θ is as sumed to be normally distributed when its distribution is actually skewed, MML estimators lose accuracy and efficiency when compared to CML estimators. The ef fects are not large, though they increase as the skew- ness of the number-correct score distribution increases. However, statistics to test the sufficiency and condi tional independence assumptions of the Rasch model in the MML approach are very sensitive to misspecifi cation of the θ distribution. Index terms: ability dis tribution, conditional likelihood, efficiency, goodness of fit, marginal likelihood, Rasch model, robustness.
An Equal-Level Approach to the Investigation of Multitrait-Multimethod Matrices
Authors: Schweizer Karl
Published: March 2007

An equal-level approach that yields new infor mation for the evaluation of multitrait-multimethod (MTMM) matrices is described. The procedure is based on the analysis of item-composite relations, composite-composite relations, composites, and facets. A main characteristic of the equal-level approach is the induction of equality in data-level prior to carrying out comparisons between coeffi cients, because in many cases such inequalities may lead to inaccurate conclusions. Methods are proposed for ensuring comparability of coefficients even if an MTMM design includes different numbers of items for traits and methods. The concept of dis aggregation is assigned a key position in the inves tigation of convergent and discriminant validity. In addition, measures are proposed for avoiding other distortions resulting from partial self-correlations.
Seriation and Multidimensional Scaling: A Data Analysis Approach to Scaling Asymmetric Proximity Matrices
Authors: Rodgers Joseph Lee , Thompson Tony D.
Published: March 2007

A number of model-based scaling methods have been developed that apply to asymmetric proximity matrices. A flexible data analysis approach is pro posed that combines two psychometric procedures— seriation and multidimensional scaling (MDS). The method uses seriation to define an empirical order ing of the stimuli, and then uses MDS to scale the two separate triangles of the proximity matrix defined by this ordering. The MDS solution con tains directed distances, which define an "extra" dimension that would not otherwise be portrayed, because the dimension comes from relations between the two triangles rather than within triangles. The method is particularly appropriate for the analysis of proximities containing temporal information. A major difficulty is the computa tional intensity of existing seriation algorithms, which is handled by defining a nonmetric seriation algorithm that requires only one complete itera tion. The procedure is illustrated using a matrix of co-citations between recent presidents of the Psychometric Society.
Multidimensionality and Item Bias in Item Response Theory
Authors: Oshima T.C. , Miller M. David
Published: March 2007

This paper demonstrates empirically how item bias indexes based on item response theory (IRT) identify bias that results from multidimensionality. When a test is multidimensional (MD) with a primary trait and a nuisance trait that affects a small portion of the test, item bias is defined as a mean difference on the nuisance trait between two groups. Results from a simulation study showed that although IRT-based bias indexes clearly distinguished multidimensionality from item bias, even with the presence of a between-group dif ference on the primary trait, the bias detection rate depended on the degree to which the item measured the nuisance trait, the values of MD discrimination, and the number of MD items. It was speculated that bias defined from the MD perspective was more likely to be detected when the test data met the essential unidimensionality assumption. Index
A Psychometric Evaluation of 4-Point and 6-Point Likert-Type Scales in Relation to Reliability and Validity
Authors: Lei Chang
Published: March 2007

Reliability and validity of 4-point and 6-point scales were assessed using a new model-based ap proach to fit empirical data. Different measurement models were fit by confirmatory factor analyses of a multitrait-multimethod covariance matrix. 165 gradu ate students responded to nine items measuring three quantitative attitudes. Separation of method from trait variance led to greater reduction of reliability and heterotrait-monomethod coefficients for the 6-point scale than for the 4-point scale. Criterion-related valid ity was not affected by the number of scale points. The issue of selecting 4- versus 6-point scales may not be generally resolvable, but may rather depend on the empirical setting. Response conditions theorized to in fluence the use of scale options are discussed to pro vide directions for further research. Index terms: Likert-type scales, multitrait-multimethod matrix, reli ability, scale options, validity.
An Investigation of Lord's Procedure for the Detection of Differential Item Functioning
Authors: Kim Seock-Ho , Cohen Allan S. , Kim Hae-Ok
Published: March 2007

Type I error rates of Lord's χ 2 test for differential item functioning were investigated using monte carlo simulations. Two- and three-parameter item response theory (IRT) models were used to generate 50-item tests for samples of 250 and 1,000 simulated examin ees. Item parameters were estimated using two algo rithms (marginal maximum likelihood estimation and marginal Bayesian estimation) for three IRT models (the three-parameter model, the three-parameter model with a fixed guessing parameter, and the two-param eter model). Proportions of significant χ 2s at selected nominal α levels were compared to those from joint maximum likelihood estimation as reported by McLaughlin & Drasgow (1987). Type I error rates for the three-parameter model consistently exceeded theo retically expected values. Results for the three-param eter model with a fixed guessing parameter and for the two-parameter model were consistently lower than ex pected values at the a levels in this study. Index terms: differential item functioning, item response theory, Lord's χ2.
Robust Dual Scaling with Tukey's Biweight
Authors: Sachs John
Published: March 2007

Use of the method of reciprocal biweighted means (MBM) for dealing with the outlier problem in dual scal ing compared favorably with other robust estimation procedures, such as the method of trimmed reciprocal averages (MTA). Like the MTA, the MBM was easy to implement and it converged to a stable point when a two-step estimation procedure was used. One advantage of the MBM over the MTA was that it afforded greater control in fine tuning the final solution. Empirical re sults for four datasets, some containing multiple outli ers, are presented. Index terms: biweight, dual scaling, outliers, reciprocal averages, robust estimation, Tukey 's biweight.
Commentary on the Commentaries of Collins and Humphreys
Authors: Williams Richard H. , Zimmerman Donald W.
Published: March 2007

The critiques of Collins (1996) and Humphreys (1996) certainly throw light on properties of gain scores and difference scores that have led to controversies in the past. Collins' examples reveal that familiar formulas for the reliability of differences do not adequately reflect the precision of measures of change, because they do not allow for intraindividual change. Some additional examples are provided here, and a similar argument is applied to the reliability of a single test. As Collins im plies, these arguments indeed disclose flaws, not only in the conventional approach to the reliability of gains and differences, but also in the basic concept of reliability in classical test theory. Index terms: change scores, clas sical test theory, difference scores, gain scores, intrain dividual differences, measurement of growth, reliability, test theory, validity.
The Architecture of Knowledge Systems
Authors: DUNN WILLIAM N. , HOLZNER BURKART , SHAHIDULLAH MUHAMMAD , HEGEDUS ANDREA M.
Published: March 2007

The task of designing social impact of science (SIS) indicators is an ill-structured or systemic problem involving competing design goals, indeterminate design states, unspecified design rules, and an unbounded design space. These features of the problem are not a result of imperfections of measurement alone; they are due primarily to properties of the knowledge system that make it resemble a tangled river delta (anastomotic reticulum) in which different functional patterns (serial, parallel, assembly, arborescent, segmented, cyclic) coexist. The stunning complexity of knowledge systems makes it difficult but nevertheless possible to develop SIS indicators that are policy relevant by virtue of their being at once relational, causal, and normative (see also Peters, this volume). Any attempt to improve the policy relevance of impact indicators will recognize that systemic problems require nonconventional solutions based on principles of externalization, formalization, and simplification. An initial attempt to externalize the design process yields typologies of science output indicators and social impact indicators that may be conjoined to form social impact of science (SIS) indicators. By formalizing rules for making and challenging causal inferences, we can formulate rival hypotheses about the role of knowledge functions and structures in mediating the impacts of science on the achievement of social goals. By simplifying the design process we can maximize the likelihood that SIS indicators and the basis for their construction are widely comprehended by groups that have a stake in the social performance of science.
Comments and Replies
Authors: SILVERMAN ROBERT J.
Published: March 2007

Analysis of the “comments and replies” sections of social science journals can assist understanding of the nature of epistemological and community-related debates and field development at the edge of knowledge contexts. Comments on articles and replies by authors occur at the margin, after articles have been deemed good enough to publish, and this focus of argumentation provides valuable insight to the process of field development.
Relational Indexing. Part I
Authors: Farradane J.
Published: March 2007

The author's system of relational indexing has been the subject of several papers in the journal literature (sec bibliography at end), but no comprehensive exposition of the system has previously been made. The following description of the principles of the method, with full examples, and an outline of its computerization, now provides such a definitive statement. Many of the details discussed relate to practical problems raised by students and colleagues.
User needs, the new technology and traditional approaches to library services
Authors: Shinebourne J.
Published: March 2007

This paper indicates weaknesses in the concept of user needs as a concept of practical utility in the task of identifying the right book at the right time; it doubts the value of an ‘active’ approach to service in libraries; it comments on the development of online services in relation to ‘user needs’ and suggests a more sophisticated approach to record creation.
The testing of relational indexing procedures by diagnostic computer programs
Authors: Farradane J. , Thompson D.
Published: March 2007

Information retrieval in a relational indexing system has been tested by means of a suite of computer programs which will carry out searches in a variety of ways, with, on demand, detailed diagnostic feedback at any stage. The performance of the system can thus be evaluated as a 'system' separately from user judgments of the output. Details of the programming are described. Some initial results are discussed with respect to strengths and possible weaknesses of the system.
Inter-library comparisons: a report on progress, with particular reference to public libraries
Authors: Harrington L. Talyor , Carruthers R.M.L. , Moffat M.
Published: March 2007

This paper describes comparative studies, an aspect of library management in which there is growing interest.

The paper is in three Parts. The first outlines in general terms the objectives of 'interfirm' or 'inter-organisation' comparisons for management. It refers to some important features of effective comparisons, and distinguishes between 'true' interfirm comparisons and general statistical surveys. Part 2 describes the programme of work so far undertaken in the development of inter-library comparisons as a man agement tool. The stages of this work (funded by the British Library R & D Department) are described, together with the findings which emerged as the work progressed. Part 2 ends with a brief assessment of the results of the public library 'pilot' comparison, which involved 27 library systems, and describes plans for further action in this field. Reference is also made to the substantial development work undertaken in 1980 relating to comparisons for academic libraries; and to the possibility of future development work relating to special libraries. The third Part describes the scope and con tent of the main ('pilot') comparison so far undertaken for public libraries; examples of the format of the results of that comparison are given in the Appendices.
Office automation: a conceptual approach
Authors: Bavelas Alex , MacGregor James , Safayeni Frank
Published: March 2007

The problem of office automation is considered within the context of an information processing model of an office. The model considers the relationship between the input variety. output variety, and the transformational variety available to an office which changes the input variety to a desired level of output variety. The transformational activity is considered in terms of a network of task dependencies, and a corresponding social structure. The relationship between the network of task dependencies and the social structure is discussed and emphasis is placed on research that considers the prohlem in an in tegrated manner.
Delayed online search: an alternative access mode for developing countries
Authors: El-Hadidy Bahaa
Published: March 2007

The paper discusses the design and implementation of a pilot experiment to introduce commercially available online service to Egyptian users from a geographically distant location in the U.S. With the lack of international data communication net works for online transmission in Egypt, a delayed online search technique is used as an alternative mode for accessing the service from the U.S. A document delivery support system from abroad is also discussed. A critical analysis and evaluation of the project activities is presented. Factors affecting the performance of the service, and users' reactions and expecta tions are also analysed.
A review of the use of inverted files for best match searching in information retrieval systems
Authors: Perry Shirley A. , Willett Peter
Published: March 2007

The use of inverted files for the calculation of similarity coefficients and other types of matching function is discussed in the context of mechanised document retrieval systems. A critical evaluation is presented of a range of algorithms which have been described for the matching of documents with queries. Particular attention is paid to the computational efficiency of the various procedures, and improved search heuristics are given in some cases. It is suggested that the algorithms could be implemented sufficiently efficiently to permit the provision of nearest neighbour searching as a standard retrieval option.
Information use and transfer by British and French scientists: A study of two groups
Authors: Swinburne Joan K.
Published: March 2007

Scientists employed at two state-aided agricultural research institutes were interviewed to see what national differences exist between workers in the same field (the endocrinology and biochemistry of lactation and reproduction). Bibliometric analyses were made of publications by past and present mem bers of both groups from 1958 to 1980. Data were also ob tained on the facilities available. Journals named in interviews and cited in publications by both groups are predominantly English-language and 71% of the papers published by the French group from 1976 to 1980 were in English. Differences between the groups include more frequent publication abroad by the French (68%) than the British (27%), frequency of citation of recent references (20% of the British and 33% of the French citations were less than 3 years old) and membership of scientific societies (average 3 per scientist for the British, < 1 for the French). It is concluded that access to facilities, national tradition, size of a country's scientific community and political events influence information use and transfer.
Financial information on Ceefax and ORACLE
Authors: Bottle R.T. , Leggatt A.L.S.
Published: March 2007

Teletext provides free financial information in the U.K. via Ceefax (BBC) and ORACLE (ITN). These two services are com pared for coverage, timeliness and layout. ORACLE gives more share prices than Ceefax but in most other areas Ceefax is superior. The FT Index reported with a mean delay of 10-14 minutes on Ceefax and 15-19 minutes on ORACLE. A small panel of viewers decisively preferred the layout of Ceefax to that of ORACLE. The mean length of company reports on ORACLE is twice that on Ceefax.
The use of a commercial microcomputer database management system as the basis for bibliographic information retrieval
Authors: Armstrong C.J.
Published: March 2007

A bibliographic retrieval package developed on the database management system (DBMS), dBASE II, under the CP/M operating system is described, together with its use by the author. The background to its development and a discussion of the DBMS approach is included. The system is intended for use by non-trained staff and its acceptance of a wide range of document types makes it ideal for use in special libraries. The article demonstrates how general purpose software may be utilized by information units.