bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Parties, Interest Groups, and Administered Mass Organizations
Authors: KASZA GREGORY J.
Published: March 2007

Many military-bureaucratic and single-party regimes have created official mass organizations to eliminate opposition, to mobilize for war, and to implement socioeconomic policies. Case studies have demonstrated the historical significance of these state-directed bodies, but empirical political theory has not identified them as a distinct form of organization. As a result, scholars often portray them as would-be parties or interest groups, which belies their true character. Based on data from 10 countries, this study contends that the main purpose of these “administered mass organizations” differentiates them from parties and interest groups, and that their common structural traits mark them as a separate type of political institution.
From Comparative Public Policy to Political Economy
Authors: PONTUSSON JONAS
Published: March 2007

The historical institutionalist tradition in comparative politics commonly assigns analytical primacy to political institutions. Whereas this polity-centeredness may be quite justifiable for purposes of comparative public policy, students of comparative political economy should pay systematic attention not only to economic institutions but also to a range of economic-structural variables that lie beyond the conventional confines of institutional analysis. Providing the basis for an analysis of collective actors and their interests, such an approach is needed to account for institutional change and policy realignments within stable institutions.
The Impact of Goods and Capital Market Integration on European Monetary Politics
Authors: FRIEDEN JEFFRY A.
Published: March 2007

Members of the European Union (EU) have long attempted to unify their monetary policies, whether by fixing exchange rates or moving toward a single currency. The success of these attempts has varied over time, and among EU member states. This article argues that the degree to which a country is integrated into EU trade and finance has a major impact on its willingness to make the sacrifices necessary to pursue monetary integration, especially stability against Europe's anchor currency, the Deutsche Mark (DM). Higher levels of intra-European trade and investment increase the desirability of stabilizing exchange rates between European countries. Statistical evidence indicates that greater integration of goods and capital markets is associated with greater success in fixing national exchange rates against the DM. This implies that pressures for monetary integration will continue but will vary among countries, along with the degree to which they are economically linked to European trade and investment.
Interests and the Wall of Ideas
Authors: ANDERSON JEFFREY J. , WALLANDER CELESTE A.
Published: March 2007

Since 1989, Germany's domestic and international environments have experienced significant changes. Thus, it is reasonable to expect that the country's long-standing foreign and domestic policies will adapt to novel challenges and pressures. This article examines eastern trade policy, an area in which one might expect to observe a greater degree of government intervention postunification. In fact, no such adaptation has taken place. This empirical puzzle lends itself to analysis based on the interaction of interests, institutions, and ideas. Unification altered the prevailing constellation of material economic interests in Germany, as well as parliamentary-electoral institutions. However, the events of 1989 to 1990 left untouched dominant ideas that shaped the West German political economy, as well as crucial sets of domestic and international institutions linked to those ideas. The authors conclude that the absence of an interventionist trade response stems from continuity at the nexus of ideas and institutions in unified Germany.
`Our Danish Democracy': Community, People and Democracy in the Danish Debate on the Common Currency
Authors: HAAHR JENS HENRIK
Published: March 2007

Adopting a post-structuralist perspective and focusing on a segment of public debate prior to the September 2000 referendum in Denmark on the introduction of the common European currency, five different conceptions of democracy are identified, but a hegemonic discourse is seen to prevail across these conceptions. This discourse contains knowledge of democracy as a community of one homogeneous, solidaristic people and of the existence of one homogeneous and solidaristic Danish people. It is ethno-nationalist in so far as it implies common and unifying traits which serve as boundary markers. It points to certain limits as regards relations between `Denmark', `Europe' and `democracy'. For so long as predominant conceptions of democracy all rest upon knowledge of one homogeneous people, and as long as `we all know' that there is no homogeneous European people, a conflict will remain between `Europe' and `democracy' in Danish debates.
A Service Conundrum
Authors: Walsh Kate
Published: March 2007

Neither service employees nor customers generally focus on what makes a service transaction exceptional, if the results of an exploratory study can be generalized. Indeed, a study of a full-service hotel in a large city found that guests could not recall the specifics of a check-in transaction only moments after it occurred, unless that transaction was exceptionally good (or particularly bad). In contrast, restaurant customers were better able to assess service transactions, although they, too, were likely to remember only outstandingly good or poor service. In general, employees in the front office and in the restaurant used their own personal philosophies or specific approaches to service delivery. Four individuals who were identified as outstanding servers considered service to be a sort of calling. Their approach to service was to create a sense of relationship even in a momentary encounter by attempting to determine in advance what the guest wants and fulfilling that desire before the guest even articulates that need. On the other hand, employees who provided good or average service focused chiefly on making the encounter pleasant and efficient.
The Future of Indoor Air Quality
Authors: Teeters Kenneth , Jones Thomas , Boatman Joe F.
Published: March 2007

Indoor air quality (IAQ) is a topic of increasing concern for facility managers in the hospitality industry. Present IAQ regulations, as exemplified by most municipal, county, and state codes, are grossly inadequate according to recent pronouncements from the Environmental Protection Agency and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. For hospitality firms to avoid potential legal jeopardy, they must evaluate their facilities' IAQ, mitigate air-borne contaminants, and ensure that their ventilation practices meet the highest current standards. Fortunately, the long-term savings arising from clean air and accommodations for smokers outweigh the costs of following OSHA guidelines. The implementation of a written indoor-air-quality maintenance program will also help to prepare a facility to meet OSHA's proposed IAQ compliance plan.
Problems with and Alternatives to the Use of Coding Schemes in Research on Counseling
Authors: Patton Michael J.
Published: March 2007

The uses and effects of coding schemes in research on counseling process and outcome are analyzed. It is concluded that the interpretation1 of counseling events in terms of the categories of a coding scheme attenuates at adequate description of those events whenever the researcher uses the coder `s interpretation of events as if it were veridical with the participants' inter prctation. Conversation analysis and ethnomethodology are proposed as alternate methods of data collection. These methods rely on detailed observation of the sequential utterances of counselor and client in order to identify the structures of their interaction that lend the encounter its perceived character for the participants. Thus, the context of meaning created by the participants through their relationship of interaction is made topical in the analysis of the ongoing even is of the interview.
Theme-Oriented Group Therapy
Authors: Richards R. Lynn , Burlingame Gary M. , Fuhriman Addie
Published: March 2007

Although there has been a rapid and recent increase in the use of "theme" groups, minimal empirical or conceptual evidence exists that articulates a model for developing and implementing theme group treatment. This article describes the three major influences on theme-oriented groups (theme-centered international, structured, and behavioral groups) and provides a comparison of the composition and structure of theme groups during the current decade. General principles underlying the development of theme-oriented groups are proffered.
Rational Suicide and AIDS
Authors: Werth James L.
Published: March 2007

One of the issues arising out of the increasing incidence of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) is whether or not suicide may be considered to be a rational choice for a person with AIDS. In an effort to address this dilemma, this article begins by reviewing the literature pertaining to suicide and persons with terminal illnesses. Then, after recounting the suicide rate for persons with AIDS, it explores some of the physical and psychosocial factors that may be a part of a decision by a person with AIDS to commit suicide. Siegel's criteria for a rational suicide are applied to the case of a person with AIDS. In addition, the role of the psychotherapist in the decision-making process is critically examined, as are some arguments against allowing suicide. Finally, suggestions for future directions by counseling psychologists are offered.
Strategies for Coping with Cultural Diversity
Authors: Coleman Hardin L. K.
Published: March 2007

Coping with cultural diversity is one of the major challenges facing individuals who seek counseling services as well as those who provide those services. This article describes six strategies, (a) assimilation or monoculturation, (b) acculturation, (c) alternation, (d) integration, (e) separation, andf) fusion that individuals may use to cope with cultural diversity. The relationship between these strategies, an ecosystemic model of culture, and a social cognitive theory of behavior is presented. The article discusses how these strategies may affect the process and outcome of counseling as well as the implications these strategies have for research.
Principles and Virtues
Authors: Meara Naomi M. , Schmidt Lyle D. , Day Jeanne D.
Published: March 2007

Principle ethics can be described as a set of prima facie obligations one considers when confronted with an ethical dilemma. Virtue ethics focuses on character traits and nonobligatory ideals that facilitate the development of ethical individuals. Within the context of the assumption that the major responsibilities or primary goals of professionals are to be competent and to serve the common good, we suggest that integrating these complementary ethical perspectives provides a coherent structure for enhancing the ethical competence of psychologists and counselors and the level of public trust in the character and actions of these professions and their members. Virtue ethics, rooted in the narratives and aspirations of specific communities, can be particularly helpful to professionals in discerning appropriate ethical conduct in multicultural settings and interactions. We propose that future directions for research and instruction be expanded from quandary ethics to encompass issues of character
Male Reference Group Identity Dependence
Authors: Wade Jay C.
Published: March 2007

This article presents a theory of male identity developed to address the question of why men vary in their masculinity ideology and in their conformity to standards of masculinity. The theory, male reference group identity dependence, is based on two other theories—reference group theory and ego identity development theory. Reference group identity dependence is defined as the extent to which males are dependent on a reference group for their gender role self-concept. An overview of relevant masculinity research, theoretical foundations for the construct of reference group identity dependence, theoretical postulates, and associated behavioral and psychological characteristics are presented. Research implications of the theory are discussed and future research directions are provided.
The Temporal Relationship Between Police Killings of Civilians and Criminal Homicide: A Refined Version of the Danger-Perception Theory
Authors: MacDonald John M. , Kaminski Robert J. , Alpert Geoffrey P. , Tennenbaum Abraham N.
Published: March 2007

The connection between police use of deadly force and the criminal homicide rate has long been recognized in the literature. Their temporal relationship, however, has seldom been examined. The present study suggests that earlier research has underestimated the importance of the temporal relationship between the homicides that present the greatest level of public danger and police use of deadly force. This research suggests that police use of deadly force can best be understood through a “ratio-threat” version of the danger-perception theory. Through a time-series analysis of data from the Federal Bureau of Investigation's Supplementary Homicide Reports over a 21-year period, the ratio-threat hypothesis is confirmed. The results suggest that, on a national level, there exists a temporal connection between predatory crime and police use of deadly force. Implications for theory and future research are discussed.
Developing a Model of Structured Decision Making in Juvenile Corrections: The Massachusetts Experience
Authors: Guarino-Ghezzi Susan , Byrne James M.
Published: March 2007

Decision makers are now considering a variety of strategies for building a structured hierarchy of sanctions within the juvenile justice system. These efforts are linked to the perception that we need to increase both the level of control over juvenile offenders “at risk” in the community and the degree of accountability by decision makers for individual placement decisions. The recent development of objective classification systems represents one possible model for structured decision making. We identify three types of classification (i.e., classification for risk, treatment, and control) and analyze their potential utilization by juvenile justice decision makers. We then discuss the Massachusetts Department of Youth Services's decision model for classifying youths for placement in secure and nonsecure settings. Two unique characteristics of that system—the dominance of private sector service providers and DYS's unsurpassed discretionary authority in handling offenders—perpetuate an ongoing struggle for the state in making rational, consistent decisions. Recommendations for continued development of comprehensive classification systems are also offered.
The Scope and Purposes of Corrections: Exploring Alternative Responses to Crowding
Authors: Rosenfeld Richard , Kempf Kimberly
Published: March 2007

Current “social war” criminal justice policies lack rational planning and have contributed to the crowding crisis within the correctional system and to state and local fiscal crises. They have also generated an immense expansion in the scope of correctional control. However, proposals to reduce prison crowding through greater reliance on community corrections are more costly than commonly assumed. The authors propose a sanctions budget for corrections that requires choices among cost-effective policies based on available resources, intermediate sanctions, and explicit correctional objectives, including the restoration of rehabilitative purpose to the traditional prison.
Rethinking the Sanctioning Function in Juvenile Court: Retributive or Restorative Responses to Youth Crime
Authors: Bazemore Gordon , Umbreit Mark
Published: March 2007

Although juvenile courts have always administered punishment to youthful offenders, parens patriae and the individual treatment mission have historically assigned an ambivalent role to sanctioning. In the absence of a coherent sanctioning framework, a punitive model has recently gained dominance over dispositional decision making in juvenile court. This article examines the limitations of sanctioning choices presented by both the individual treatment mission and what some have referred to as a “retributive justice” paradigm. We then consider the implications of an alternative model—restorative justice—as a framework for a new approach to sanctioning consistent with a revitalized juvenile justice mandate.
Domestic Violence Reforms: Empty Promises or Fulfilled Expectations?
Authors: Davis Robert C. , Smith Barbara
Published: March 2007

During the past few decades, criminal justice agencies have radically changed the way that they respond to domestic violence incidents. Arrest had become the preferred police response to domestic incidents, prosecutors have acted to reduce the control of victims over domestic court cases, restraining orders have become more widely used, and court-mandated treatment for batterers has become common. The authors review what is known about the efficacy of these major reforms and conclude that the criminal justice system remains for from developing a set of tools that work well across a variety of situations in reducing the likelihood of future violence.
Reducing Overrepresentation of Minorities in Juvenile Justice: Development of Community-Based Programs in Pennsylvania
Authors: Welsh Wayne N. , Harris Philip W. , Jenkins Patricia H.
Published: March 2007

Although minority overrepresentation in juvenile justice settings has been identified as a persistent problem, interventions are scarce. To address minority overrepresentation in its juvenile justice system, Pennsylvania funded nine community-based intervention programs. This article describes a systematic model that provides an active role for program staff in program assessment and development prior to the design of outcome evaluations. Using archival, interview, and observational methods, we conducted evaluability assessments and process evaluations of each program. These formative evaluations provided essential information to strengthen community-based program planning, implementation, and impact assessment.
Crime Takes a Holiday in Milan
Authors: Zimring Franklin E. , Ceretti Adolfo , Broli Luisa
Published: March 2007

Crime of all kinds drops almost by half in Milan, Italy, during the vacation month of August. This article documents the across-the-board decrease and contrasts this pattern with U.S. cities that display very little seasonal variation in offenses. Since the opportunities to commit offenses do not drop precipitously, the Milan pattern suggests that crime rates drop because offenders voluntarily reduce the level of their criminal activity. This propensity of offenders to take time off in August reflects Italian social values and illustrates the important linkage between general cultural conditions and patterns of crime.
Predicting Success or Failure on Probation: Factors Associated with Felony Probation Outcomes
Authors: Sims Barbara , Jones Mark
Published: March 2007

This study examined the factors associated with success or failure on probation for 2,850 North Carolina felony probationers who were removed from supervision between July 1 and October 31, 1993. Probationers were profiled on various demographic, sentence, and probation characteristics. Chi-square analysis was used to determine differences within various subgroups of the sample, and logistic regression was used to predict failure on probation in two separate models. The findings suggest that risk assessment items used by probation officers to determine level of supervision for probationers perform well in a logistic regression equation.
Mental Abuse as Cruel and Unusual Punishment: Do Boot Camp Prisons Violate the Eighth Amendment?
Authors: Lutze Faith E. , Brody David C.
Published: March 2007

Research has shown that large segments of the public will only support shorter sentences for offenders if longer sentences are exchanged for harsh, intensive correctional experiences. An exchange of time for intensity has raised concerns about the purpose of correctional boot camp and the potential for abuse in programs intentionally designed to be severe. This article compares common forms of discipline used in shock incarceration programs with legal findings regarding what is cruel and unusual punishment. It concludes that practices commonly used at boot camp may be considered cruel and unusual and may give rise to costly inmate litigation.
Institutional Alternatives to Democracy in Latin America: A Sociological Perspective
Authors: Peschard Jacqueline , Valdés Leonardo
Published: March 2007

This paper reviews electoral studies of Latin America of the last decade, showing how elections in the context of democratic transitions have prompted reflexion on electoral behavior as well as on the nature and function of political institutions.

After briefly reviewing the debate over the impact of types of democratic regimes and political party systems on political relations, the paper calls attention to the permanence in Latin America of authoritarian enclaves through which the military retain considerable maneuvering power, the influence of the international drug traffic, and the interference by strategic actors in Latin American political life.

The authors conclude that democratically elected governments are far from synonymous with democratic regimes. Nevertheless, the neo-institutionalist approach which has redefined the impact of institutional design on political actions and reactions, and particularly the culturalist view among them, offers potentially fruitful explanations of why institutions and democratic practices function better in some sociocultural contexts than in others.
Movement Outcomes and Dimensions of Social Change: The Multiple Effects of Local Mobilizations
Authors: Cable Sherry , Degutis Beth
Published: March 2007

We use case study materials on a community mobilization against a landfill proposal to test the notion that social movement outcomes are multidimensional. We find that outcomes of community mobilization at Tug Hill in New York occurred at four levels of the social structure. Outcomes at the individual level benefited activists and included the expansion of friendship networks and personal transformations. Outcomes at the social movement organization level were mixed; the landfill was built despite mobilization, but the group endured as a watchdog organization. The host community benefited from its revitalization and its heightened political consciousness. Outcomes at the macro level included passage of more stringent state regulations of landfills. Our findings suggest the need for an expanded conceptualization of movement outcomes in which levels of social change are distinguished by the recipient of change.
Toward Greater Relevance in Preparation Programs for Urban School Administrators
Authors: Cunningham Luvern L. , Nystrand Raphael O.
Published: March 2007

The authors review the bases for present preparation programs for school administrators and note that these programs frequently lack relevance to the behaviors required of urban practitioners. They set forth some proposals for moving in these directions, suggesting that greater cooperation with school systems and modifications in traditional university offerings are in order.
Professorial Stress as a Variable in Structuring Faculty Roles
Authors: Shull Fremont A.
Published: March 2007

Using data from empirical studies which are available on the various dimensions of faculty stress, this article suggests implications for organiza- tional design in academe. Based upon his experiences in university ad- ministration, including consultant to the Vice-President for Administration, University of Wisconsin, the author interprets academic behavior in terms of two criteria, organizational effectiveness and academic freedom.
Acceptance of the Community College Philosophy among Faculty of Two-Year Institutions
Authors: Leslie Larry L.
Published: March 2007

Personal commitment to the comprehensive community college philosophy among Pennsylvania faculty of two-year institutions was found to be only modest. On the basis of a mail survey, faculty attitudes toward the goals of their institutions were best described as ambivalent. This was the major finding of a research effort conducted at the Pennsylvania State University's Center for the Study of Higher Education by Research Associates Larry L. Leslie and Angelo C. Gillie and by staff assistant, Karen L. Bloom.
Substitutes for Principal Leader Behavior: An Exploratory Study
Authors: Pitner Nancy J.
Published: March 2007

This study examines the viability of a construct, Substitutes for Leadership, for understanding and explaining principal influence potential. Leadership substitutes act in place of leader behaviors, specifically initiating structure and/or consideration. Interview data were collected to determine whether substitutes exist in the school setting. These data indicated that substitutes may potentially limit principal influence on teachers' work agendas, attitudes, and behavior.
The School Community: Its Effects on Principals' Perceptions of Parent
Authors: Goldring Ellen B.
Published: March 2007

While most researchers study the principal-parent relationship from a political perspective, the purpose of this article is to investigate, from an organizational theory point of view, the effects of characteristics of the parental community, other than socioeconomic status, on principals'perceptions of parents. The main hypothesis of this research is that characteristics of the community which influence principals' uncertainty will affect their opinions about parents. Specific characteristics studied are community assertiveness, responsiveness, homogeneity, and eagerness to participate and their effects on principals' engagement and sentiments toward parents.
State Board Desegregation Policy: An Application of the Problem-Finding Model of Policy Analysis
Authors: Shapiro Jonathan Z. , McPherson R. Bruce
Published: March 2007

This article introduces the use ofproblem-finding models to analyzepublicpolicy, an approach that permits the analysis of an aspect ofpolicymaking that is generally ignored by most policy analysis approaches, namely, how perceptions of policy problems influence thepolicyprocess. This study usesproblemfinding in analyzing 20 years (1964-1984) of state board of education desegregation policy in Illinois.
Social Judgment Theory: Applications to Educational Decision Making
Authors: Heald James E.
Published: March 2007

Administrators of educational organizations make some decisions and preside over the making of others with the efficacy of their decisions subject to a posteriori discussion and debate. The field has not developed educational decision theories much beyond experience-based models that prescribe how educational decisions should be made. This article considers a nontraditional decision theory with its base in psychology.
Foreign Language Placement: an Alternative Validation Procedure
Authors: Dalton Starrette , King Larry D.
Published: March 2007

The validation procedure recommended by the College Entrance Examination Board (CEEB) for their foreign language placement tests determines whether individuals (1) with high and low grades in the same course, and (2) from courses at different levels, score differentially on the CEEB tests. If both these differences are statistically significant, high predictive validity is inferred. The alternative proposed in this paper is to ask the student directly upon completion of the language course to which he had been assigned, whether he had been correctly placed by the CEEB test. High predictive validity is inferred if a large proportion of the students believe that they were correctly placed.

CEEB placement was evaluated by the alternative validity procedure and was found to be significantly more valid than was a second placement method in which a regression equation was used to predict level of placement from background variables. It is argued that the alternative validation procedure complements CEEB validation because in not relying on grades, it provides different information, serves different purposes, and facilitates comparisons between different placement schemes.
LPA2: a Fortran V Computer Program for Green's Solution of Latent Class Analysis Applied to Latent Profile Analysis
Authors: Mardberg Bertil
Published: March 2007

A computer program for solving latent profile analysis (Gibson, 1959) is presented. Green's (1951) solution for latent class analysis was used. N observations on p variables constitute the data matrix. The program estimates latent mean vectors and classifies the observation vectors to them. The result is a number of clusters of the observation vectors. A χ2-test of local independence is defined. Latent and observed discriminabilities are defined as the proportion of a variable's variance which is explained by between-variance. Discriminability constitutes the lower bound for estimated variable reliability. The program performs the analysis for a specified series of numbers of latent profiles and specified values on the diagonal of the product moment correlation matrix.
An Investigation of the Rasch Simple Logistic Model: Sample Free Item and Test Calibration1
Authors: Tinsley Howard E.A. , Dawis René V.
Published: March 2007

This research investigated the use of the Rasch simple logistic model in item and test calibration. Tests employing word, picture, symbol, and number analogies were administered to high school students, college students, civil service clerical employees, and clients of the Minnesota Division of Vocational Rehabilitation. The results indicated that Rasch item easiness ratios and z item difficulty ratios were invariant with respect to the ability of the calibrating sample when an adequate sample was employed and the test design did not incorporate biasing factors. The invariance of the Rasch item easiness ratios was shown to be related to the goodness-of-fit of the items to the Rasch model in that the deletion of items with low Rasch probabilities increased the invariance of the Rasch item easiness ratios. The estimation of the amount of ability indicated by the raw scores on a test was also shown to be invariant with respect to the ability of the calibrating sample for tests of 25 or more items, even when samples of fewer than 100 subjects were studied.
Protestant Ethic Attitudes Among College Students
Authors: Waters L.K. , Batlis Nick , Waters Carrie Wherry
Published: March 2007

The six scales of the Survey of Work Values (Wollack, Goodale, Wijting, and Smith, 1971), the Blood (1969) pro-Protestant Ethic scale, and the Protestant Ethic scale of Mirels and Garrett (1971) were intercorrelated, and each scale was correlated with Rotter's I/E scale, SAT total score, and cumulative grade point average for 170 college students. A factor analysis of the Protestant Ethic scales yielded two factors which were interpreted, on the basis of the loadings of the Survey of Work Values scales, as representing intrinsic (work-related) and extrinsic (reward-related) aspect of Protestant Ethic. The Blood and the Mirels and Garrett scales loaded substantially on both factors. Generally, the Protestant Ethic scales were negatively related to external orientation on the I/E scale, and were unrelated to SAT scores and academic performance.
Validity and Reliability of a Simple Device for Readiness Screening
Authors: Hayes Marjorie , Mason Emanuel , Covert Robert
Published: March 2007

The utility of the Hayes Early Identification Listening Response Test (HEILRT), a rapidly administered screening test for readiness for first grade, was studied with 121 kindergarten pupils who were tested at the beginning of the academic year. The test could be administered in 15 to 20 minutes to groups of up to 30 children at a time. Reliability of the test was estimated to be .86 and rater reliability was .99. The test correlated highly positively (.79) with the Metropolitan Readiness Test, but not with age, number of siblings, or educational level of the mother. It was concluded that based upon the data, the HEILRT held promise as a readiness screening instrument for use with kindergarten children.
The Relationship Between Attitudes Toward School and Achievement for Groups of Elementary School Children Exposed to Two Models of Instruction'
Authors: Lewis John , Adank Richard
Published: March 2007

A study of the relationship between attitudes toward school and learning among pupils in grades one through six in two different models of instruction revealed four significant correlations among twelve calculated. The implication was that attitudes towards school were not systematically related to learning among elementary pupils.
A Measure of Reliability Using Qualitative Data
Authors: Koslowsky Meni , Bailit Howard
Published: March 2007

In many research activities, the data is unordered or qualitative. In such circumstances, inter-rater reliability is usually measured by calculating a percentage of agreement score between judges. The present paper expands on an equation first introduced by Goodman and Kruskal for obtaining a reliability measure of one item. This formula determines inter-rater reliability for a series of items across many subjects. The statistic that results is easily interpreted and in many ways is analogous to the conventional reliability for quantitative data.
The Relationship of Reading Achievement, School Attitude, and Self-Responsibility Behaviors of Sixth-Grade Pupils To Comparative and Individualized Reporting Systems: Implications for Improvement of Validity of the Evaluation of Pupil Progress
Authors: Butterworth Thomas W. , Michael William B.
Published: March 2007

Two comparable samples of sixth-grade pupils were recipients of information furnished by two different systems of reporting pupil progress: (a) one involving use of a traditional competitive and comparative A-F letter grade approach and (b) the other embracing a highly individualized procedure which consisted of detailed narrative statements providing evaluative feedback on performance in the school setting. A 2 × 2 × 2 quasi-experimental design (reporting system × IQ × sex) was employed with dependent variables including measures of (a) reading achievement, (b) school attitude, and (c) self-responsibility for intellectual attainments. Results from three univariate analyses of variance revealed significant main effects for each dependent variable favoring the individualized reporting system over the traditional one, high ability children over low ability children, and girls over boys. In the instance of the measure of intellectual self-responsibility a significant interaction occurred between ability level and mode of reporting which suggested that as compared with the traditional competitive mode an individualized reporting system would yield differential outcomes indicating a higher average level of intellectual self-responsibility for children of low ability but no appreciable difference in average level of self-responsibility for children of high ability. Implications of the use of individualized reporting systems for improving the validity of evaluating pupil progress are discussed.
Response Models and Examinee Behavior: a Note on the Lack of Correspondence
Authors: Linn Robert L.
Published: March 2007

Two basic assumptions made in personal probability testing procedures are reviewed. Some empirical examinee response data are examined and it is suggested that these assumptions should not be taken lightly in empirical studies of personal probability testing procedures.
The Validity of the Subtests of 1976 Edition of the Metropolitan Readiness Tests
Authors: Tokar Edward B. , Holthouse Norman D.
Published: March 2007

Significant positive correlations, with one exception, between ratings of kindergarten pupils by their teachers in six readiness areas and pupil raw scores suggested the concurrent validity of the five subtests of the 1976 edition of the Metropolitan Readiness Tests (MRT), Level II, Form P. Correlations between MRT subtest scores and teachers' ratings of pupil readiness ranged from .235 to .745.
Factorial Analysis of Generalizability
Authors: Erlich Oded , Borich Gary
Published: March 2007

Subsequent to an overview of the basic concepts in generalizability theory, a computer program for studying generalizability of scores in 3 facet (4 factor) designs is described. An illustrative example is also provided.
The Relationship of the General Educational Performance Index Measure to Other Indicators of Educational Development in Each of Three Samples From an United States Army Population
Authors: Modjeski Richard B. , Michael William B.
Published: March 2007

For each of three samples of 223, 124, and 54 individuals (enlisted personnel) representing military populations of different ability levels, relationships were found between total (mean) scores on achievement examination batteries or on their subtests and corresponding scores on a relatively new test battery entitled General Education Performance Index (GEPI), a comparatively short examination with five subtests essentially parallel in content to five subtests of the General Education Development (GED) test battery that requires about 10 hours to administer. Although composite (mean) scores on the GED test battery could be predicted with a relatively high degree of accuracy from those on the GEPI composite (the correlations varying between .52 and .70), scores on one subtest in either battery could be forecast from those in a corresponding subtest in the other battery with somewhat limited accuracy (the correlations ranging from .28 to .57). Subtests in Reading and Language of the Comprehensive Tests of Basic Skills (CTBS) provided coefficients falling between .40 and .68 in relation to composite scores on the GED and GETI test batteries, whereas the Nelson Reading Test (NRT) and the General Technical (GT) Composite Score of the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) furnished, respectively, corresponding coefficients ranging between .01 and .30 and between .12 and .36. Demographic variables pertaining to grade level and age of examinees yielded for the most part no signficant relationships with the several test measures.
The Predictive Validity of the Raven Progressive Matrices With Some Nigerian Children
Authors: Ogunlade James O.
Published: March 2007

The scores of 537 fourteen-year-old students in Nigeria on the Raven Progressive Matrices (RPM) were correlated with their scores on achievement test to provide an estimate of the predictive validity of the EPM. The results showed that the RPM exhibited low validity for predicting school achievement.
Computerized Answer Sheets: What Effects on Response to a Mail Survey?
Authors: Feild Hubert S. , Holley William H. , Armenakis Achilles A.
Published: March 2007

Computerized answer sheets in mail surveys have not been systematically examined for their effects on rate of return and response bias. To evaluate these effects, 170 job satisfaction questionnaires, half to be answered on a computerized answer sheet and half on the questionnaire itself, were randomly given to employees of a medium-size city. The use of a computerized answer sheet had no significant impact on the return of questionnaires of varying lengths. Subjects returning the questionnaires, under the two response formats, did not differ in terms of race, sex, age, or educational level. Although the result approached significance, there was no significant difference for expressed job satisfaction between the two formats. Results suggested that computerized answer sheets may be used in mail surveys without significantly affecting rate of return or producing response bias.
An Analysis and Evaluation of the Internal Validity of the Remote Associates Test: What Does it Measure?
Authors: Dailey David P.
Published: March 2007

It is shown that items constructed like those of Mednick's Remote Associates Test (1962) fall into distinct categories. These categories of items are shown to interact significantly with subjects and with subject groups determined on the basis of RAT performance. Furthermore, RAT performance is shown to be more related to performance on items containing idiomatic relationships between stimuli and targets than to performance on items in which such relationships are semantic in nature. It is suggested either that the RAT is measuring a loosely related group of subtraits, or that its item population is poorly specified. Some doubts are cast on the validity of the RAT.
The Rationale of Scheffé's Method and the Simultaneous Test Procedure
Authors: Boik Robert J.
Published: March 2007

A simple rationale for Scheffé's Method and Gabriel's Simultaneous Test Procedure is presented. Examples of both methods are provided.
The Kuder Occupational Interest Inventory as a Moderator of its Predictive Validity
Authors: Hansen Chris J. , Zytowski Donald G.
Published: March 2007

A measure of the extent to which the Kuder Occupational Interest Inventory (KOIS) was predictive of occupational membership for an individual was correlated with KOIS item and scale scores. KOIS items and scales were shown to moderate the 12 to 19 year predictive validity of the KOIS. Women with nontraditional interests were found to be relatively less predictable by the KOIS.
The Conservativeness and Power of F Tests Based on the Shine-Bower Error Term
Authors: Shine Lester C.
Published: March 2007

The Shine-Bower error term is used to form approximate F ratios for testing various effects in the Shine-Bower single-subject ANOVA and the Shine Combined ANOVA. The distribution governing the general case of any one of these F ratios is the double non-central F distribution which has both a numerator and a denominator noncentrality parameter. It is rigorously shown that the approximate nature of these F ratios makes them no worse than conservative with respect to the probability of a Type I error. It is also shown that the approximate nature of these F ratios reduces their power.
Development and Validation of an Instrument to Assess the Clinical Performance of Medical Residents
Authors: Keck Jonathan W. , Arnold Louise
Published: March 2007

The purpose of this research was to develop and to validate an instrument which would assess specific components of the clinical performance of residents regardless of their medical specialty. Such an instrument is necessary if medical schools are to evaluate adequately their educational process. The instrument—The Resident Evaluation Form (REF)—contains 33 rating scales which measure the performance of a resident in nine categories of performance. Validity and reliability data on it were gathered from two study populations of graduates from the Medical School, University of Missouri-Kansas City. The content validity of the REF, the internal structure of the instrument, and the results concerning its reliability and validity all indicate that the REF has the potential to measure clinical performance of medical residents.
The Differential Aptitude Tests as Predictors of Success in a High School for Engineering Program
Authors: Omizo Michael M.
Published: March 2007

This study examined (1) the predictive validity of the Differential Aptitude Tests (DAT) relative to achievement criteria for seniors in a high school for engineering as measured by (a) the students' ( N = 89) grades in engineering, mathematics, and science courses and (b) cumulative grade point average (CGPA) and (2) the differential validity of the 8 DAT scales in comparison of high ( N = 35) and low ( N = 54) achievers. The following selected results became apparent: (1) Numerical Ability (NA) scores were correlated .39 and .31, respectively, with performance in science courses and CGPA at the .001 level of significance and .25 with performance in mathematics courses ( p < .01); (2) Abstract Reasoning (AR) scores were correlated .46, .47, and .49, respectively, with performance in engineering, mathematics, and science courses ( p < .001) and .48 with CGPA ( p < .001); and (3) corresponding correlations of .38, .37, .49, and .44—all significant beyond the .001 level—were found between Space Relations (SR) and each of the same measures cited in the previous clause.

In fulfilling the second purpose, a two-group discriminant analysis involving the 8 DAT scales yielded a canonical correlation of .88 ( p < .001) corresponding to a chi-square of 126.67 ( df = 5). The Verbal Reasoning (VR), NA, Clerical Speed and Accuracy (CSA), SR, Spelling (SP), and Language Usage (LU) scales were each valid discriminators of the high-achieving and low-achieving students (all p < .01). It was concluded that the results supported continued use of the AR scale as an admissions criterion. It was recommended that the study be replicated with similar populations and that follow-up investigations involving cross-validation be conducted for the students who decide to further their engineering programs at the college level.
Relationship of Elementary and Secondary School Achievement Test Scores To Later Academic Success
Authors: Loyd Brenda H. , Forsyth Robert , Hoover H.D.
Published: March 2007

This study investigated the relationship between achievement test scores on the ITBS and ITED and academic success (high school and college grade point average). The basic population consisted of approximately 2000 students who entered the University of Iowa as freshmen in 1977. Scores on high school achievement tests adminis tered in grades 9, 10, 11, and 12 and on elementary achievement tests administered in grades 4, 6, and 8 were obtained for a sub stantial portion of this population, along with high school and col lege freshman grade point averages (GPAs). Correlations between these achievement test scores and GPAs were similar to those re ported for tests of the college entrance type. This study provides support for the predictive validity of the ITBS and ITED achieve ment test batteries.
An Empirical Investigation of Lu's Method of Reliability Estimation
Authors: Huck Schuyler W. , Chuang Irene , Ranney Gipsie
Published: March 2007

Based upon the belief that examinee-by-item interaction should be conceptualized as true score variability rather than as a result of errors of measurement, Lu (1971) proposed a modification of Hoyt's analysis of variance reliability procedure. Lu claims that his approach is free from the "impurities" and "entanglements" inherent in Hoyt's procedure since with nonadditive data his approach supposedly yields an error MS which estimates just σ∈2, whereas the residual MS of Hoyt's procedure would estimate σ∈ 2 + σαβ2. Via a computer simulation study, it is shown that Lu's approach does not separate interaction from error.
An Anova Methodology to Identify Biased Test Items That Takes Instructional Level Into Account
Authors: Plake Barbara S.
Published: March 2007

The methodology suggested in this paper employs a selection rule for identifying group members that generates groups that have a range of achievement within groups but equal distribution of raw scores between. An ANOVA procedure on arcsin transformed item difficulties, followed by an investigation of strength of association lend practical significance to significant items by groups interaction. A follow-up procedure that identifies items contributing to the items-by-groups interaction is described.