The relation of ninth grade test scores to twelfth grade test scores and high school rank.

From a population of high school students who had been tested in state-wide programs at the ninth and twelfth grade levels, a sample of 2185 was used to compute correlations between performance at these scholastic levels. At the ninth grade the tests were the ACE (Highschool Edition) and the Cooperative English Test (Form Y); at the twelfth grade level the tests were the ACE (College Edition) and the Cooperative English Test (Form S). HS percentile ranks were also computed for the Ss. The correlation between different forms of the same test was .8, for each test. The correlations between ACE forms and the Coop forms were .7 or higher. HSR correlated .63 with ninth grade ACE score, .71 with ninth grade English. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

A multiple-indicator approach to attitude measurement.

Most experimental research on attitudes has used crude measuring instruments, relying on aspects of research design and analysis to overcome ambiguities of interpretation permitted by the measuring instrument. As a step toward more efficient selection of measuring instruments, this paper examines different types of instruments from the point of view of the kinds of evidence they provide as a basis for assessing attitudes and of the nature of the inferences involved. 5 classes of techniques are discussed—measures in which the material from which attitudes are inferred consists of: self-reports of beliefs, feelings, behavior, etc., toward an object or class of objects; observed overt behavior toward the object; reactions to or interpretation of partially structured material relevant to the object; performance on "objective" tasks where functioning may be influenced by disposition toward the object; and physiological reactions to the object. (54 ref.) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

A revised scale for the measurement of ecological attitudes and knowledge.

Describes a revised short-form version of the authors' original scale (see record 1974-05007-001) for the assessment of ecological attitudes and knowledge. 4 subscales containing 45 items altogether measure what a person states he or she is willing to do regarding ecology and pollution issues (Verbal Commitment), what a person actually does do (Actual Commitment), how he or she feels about such issues (Affect), and what relevant knowledge he or she has (Knowledge). Data from Sierra Club, college, and non-college Ss suggest that the revised ecology scale, which takes less than 10 min to complete, clearly distinguishes persons of high concern and commitment to ecological issues. Data on validity (criterion groups) and reliability (split-half comparisons and homogeneity ratio) are presented. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

A scale for the measurement of attitudes toward French Canadians.

Constructed a scale (FC scale) for the measurement of attitudes toward French Canadians and its reliability and validity were assessed. 50 judges rated 45 statements for their favorableness-unfavorableness toward French Canadians. The method of successive intervals was used to derive scale values. 26 statements were included in the FC scale. Administering this scale to an English Canadian sample (n = 304) and a French Canadian sample (n = 208) yielded split-half reliability coefficients of .78 and .72, respectively. The scale was found to have considerable empirical validity when assessed. 1st, the correlations of the FC scale with the preference and the identity scales were significant and in the predicted direction for both samples. 2nd, as predicted, the French sample showed a highly favorable attitude toward themselves, while the English sample showed only a mildly favorable attitude toward the French Canadians. (French summary) (16 ref.) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

A growth curve approach to the measurement of change.

The measurement of individual change is approached from the standpoint of individual time paths and statistical models for individual change. The authors consider both statistical and psychometric properties of measures of individual change and examine measures of change for data with more than 2 observations on each individual. It is noted that many conclusions conflict with previous behavioral science literature. (63 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Unreliability of difference scores: A paradox for measurement of change.

Argues that the use of difference scores to measure change in experimental research has often been faulted on the grounds that errors of measurement are additive. It is suggested that in research concerned with differences between experimental treatment groups, the loss in reliability due to calculation of difference scores is not a valid concern because the power of tests of significance is maximum when the reliability of the difference scores is zero. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

A closer look at the frame-of-reference effect in personality scale scores and validity.

This article contributes to the understanding of why the use of a frame-of-reference leads to increased criterion-related validity of personality inventories. Two competing explanations are described and tested. A between-subjects (N = 337) and a within-subject (N = 105) study are conducted to test the hypothesized effects of use of a frame of reference on reliability and validity. Regarding the effects on reliability, use of a frame of reference reduces within-person inconsistency (instead of between-person variability) in responding to generic items. Use of a frame of reference further leads to higher validity as a result of the reduction of between-person variability and within-person inconsistency. Yet, reducing these inconsistencies is not enough. It is also important to use a frame of reference that is conceptually relevant to the criterion. Besides implications for contextualized personality inventories, these results provide an explanation for the moderate validities of generic personality inventories. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Contemporary militant extremism: A linguistic approach to scale development.

In this article, the authors describe procedures used in the development of a new scale of militant extremist mindset. A 2-step approach consisted of (a) linguistic analysis of the texts produced by known terrorist organizations and selection of statements from these texts that reflect the mindset of those belonging to these organizations and (b) analyses of the structural properties of the scales based on 132 selected statements. Factor analysis of militant extremist statements with participants (N = 452) from Australia, Serbia, and the United States produced 3 dimensions: (a) justification and advocacy of violence (War factor), (b) violence in the name of God (God factor), and (c) blaming Western nations for the problems in the world today (West factor). We also report the distributions of scores for the 3 subscales, mean differences among the 3 national samples, and correlations with a measure of dogmatism (M. Rokeach, 1956). (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

A French-Canadian scale for suicide ideation for use with adolescents.

Extended the Scale for Suicide Ideation (SSI) and evaluated whether the adaptation of the SSI by A. F. De Man et al (see record 1987-30114-001) that had been validated for use with adults could also be used with adolescents. 110 French-Canadian adolescents (aged 11–18 yrs) participated in an analysis of the reliability and validity of a French version of the SSI. Item analysis and coefficient alpha results suggested good reliability. Correlations with selected personality variables were obtained. Associations were found between suicide ideation and measures of self-esteem, multi-dimensional locus of control, life stress, depression, anomie, and age. (French abstract) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2011 APA, all rights reserved)     

Applicant reactions to test scores banding in entry-level and promotional contexts.

This series of field studies used a fairness framework to investigate applicant reactions to test score banding in 3 police selection contexts. Studies 1 (N?=?85) and 2 (N?=?369) involved applicants for entry-level positions, and Study 3 (N?=?39) involved applicants for promotion. Across all 3 studies, race interacted with applicants' belief that banding is associated with affirmative action to affect measures of fairness and organizational outcomes such as attractiveness and perceived employee relations. Reactions were also related to applicants' perceived outcomes as a result of banding. Results are explained in terms of self-interest and suggest that reactions to banding are largely a function of the association of banding with affirmative action. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Comparison of the Wiener-Harmon Subtle-Obvious scales and the standard validity scales in detecting valid and invalid MMPI-2 profiles.

The validity of the Wiener-Harmon Subtle–Obvious (S-O) scales has been widely debated despite increasing evidence suggesting that the scales have limited clinical utility. This study used valid Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2 (MMPI-2) profiles of 49 psychiatric patients and profiles generated by 105 college students under fake-bad, fake-good, and standard instructions to examine whether the S-O scales can correctly classify faked and honest profiles. The S-O scales correctly classified high percentages of profiles, but further analyses showed that they added no information to that provided by L and F in classifying fake-bad, fake-good, and honest profiles. But other analyses showed that L and F provided substantial information not given by the S-O scales. The study also observed the paradoxical effect under the fake-good instructions and reported evidence suggesting that a naysaying response bias is a cogent explanation of the effect. The authors concluded that the standard validity scales appear to be more useful than the S-O scales in identifying faked profiles. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Psychophysical approach to clinical judgment of low T scores on the MMPI.

Presented randomly and individually T scores on the MMPI, ranging from 30-110, to 14 PhD clinicians in Minnesota and 18 clinicians in Kansas for evaluation of pathology. Ss showed low agreement on 2 scales (Pa and Ma) and were significantly different on 7 out of the 10 scales. Minnesota judges tended to regard low scores as representing less pathology and to view pathology in a linear manner. Limitations of the study are noted. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

What's the difference between valid and invalid halo? Forced-choice measurement without forcing a choice.

Previous attempts at statistically controlling for bias in ratings have been unsuccessful due to the inability to separate valid from invalid halo. By identifying item validities, the author statistically removed ratings on invalid items from ratings on valid items in the prediction of forced-choice ratings. Using this procedure, 11 studies were conducted in 2 organizations, with ratings done for 3 purposes, using 5 rating forms to evaluate 5 levels of jobs by 4 levels of raters. The multiple tests provided consistently high relationships between the forced-choice ratings and the statistically controlled behavioral checklist ratings. (22 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

A basic approach to the interpretation of the exercise test

For primary care physicians, exercise testing is a cost-effective tool to evaluate patients presenting with symptoms. It helps to stratify those with probable coronary artery disease into a high-risk group needing referral and a low-risk group that can be observed. Each of the five main responses--the presence of myocardial ischemia, the heart rate and blood pressure response, the symptoms, any dysrhythmias, and the maximal aerobic capacity--should be mentioned in the final report. A suggested format for the exercise test report is shown in Table 4. Using the tools of pretest and post-test probability, the severity of disease, and the exercise treadmill scores greatly aids the primary care physician in the management of the patient evaluated with an exercise test.     

The continuing use and misuse of SAT scores.

The Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT), the most widely publicized test taken by Americans, strongly influences public opinion about the quality of American schools. Unfortunately, the SAT scores not only have no statistical validity for tracking trends in the achievement of American students but actually show a perverse relationship to the trends in achievement as tracked by statistically valid scores. Thus the scores are quite misleading indicators of the quality of schools. The College Entrance Examination Board, a nonprofit institution established to foster excellence in education, clearly understands the statistical limitations of the SAT scores yet actively seeks annual publicity around the release of national, state, and school district SAT scores. This article questions whether the decision by the College Board to continue publishing aggregate SAT scores is in the public interest. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

A general approach for estimating scale score reliability for panel survey data.

Scale score measures are ubiquitous in the psychological literature and can be used as both dependent and independent variables in data analysis. Poor reliability of scale score measures leads to inflated standard errors and/or biased estimates, particularly in multivariate analysis. Reliability estimation is usually an integral step to assess data quality in the analysis of scale score data. Cronbach’s α is a widely used indicator of reliability but, due to its rather strong assumptions, can be a poor estimator (L. J. Cronbach, 1951). For longitudinal data, an alternative approach is the simplex method; however, it too requires assumptions that may not hold in practice. One effective approach is an alternative estimator of reliability that relaxes the assumptions of both Cronbach’s α and the simplex estimator and thus generalizes both estimators. Using data from a large-scale panel survey, the benefits of the statistical properties of this estimator are investigated, and its use is illustrated and compared with the more traditional estimators of reliability. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Olfactory bedside test. A simple approach to identify temporo-orbitofrontal dysfunction

OBJECTIVE: In a prospective, randomized study, postoperatively prolonged antibiotic prophylaxis is evaluated in a high-risk group of patients undergoing cardiac operations. These patients had postoperative low cardiac output necessitating inotropic support and intraaortic balloon pumping. METHODS: Between January 1991 and 1994, 53 patients were enrolled in the study (42 men, mean age 65 years). All patients received the usual perioperative (24 hours) cefazolin prophylaxis. In the study group (n = 28) a prolonged regimen of prophylaxis with ticarcillin/clavulanate was performed for 2 days and vancomycin was added in a low dose until removal of the intraaortic balloon pump. The control group (n = 25) did not receive a prolonged regimen of prophylaxis. Follow-up ended at hospital discharge. RESULTS: Early mortality was 7 of 28 patients (25%) in the prophylaxis group and 8 of 25 patients (32%) in the control group (p = 0.397). Defined infections (pneumonia, n = 22; sepsis, n = 8; deep sternal wound infection, n = 2) occurred in 50% of the study group and 68% of the control group (p = 0.265). In all patients with septicemia, only coagulase-negative staphylococci could be isolated from the bloodstream (5 patients in the prophylaxis group vs 3 in the control group). Infectious parameters were controlled daily and did not differ significantly between groups. A total of 1158 bacteriologic tests were performed (blood cultures, n = 389; intravascular catheters, n = 208; bronchial aspirates, n = 411; intraaortic balloon pumps, n = 42; wound secretions, n = 108) showing bacterial growth in 322 (28%) without a significant difference between the groups. In the prophylaxis group, 13 intravascular catheters and intraaortic balloon pumps showed bacterial growth versus 11 in the control group. No side effects were seen. CONCLUSIONS: In a high-risk group of patients undergoing cardiac operations, infectious outcome could not be effectively influenced by an additional and prolonged postoperative prophylaxis regimen with low-dose vancomycin and ticarcillin/clavulanate. Low-dose vancomycin did not reduce the rate of infections or colonizations of intravascular catheters with gram-positive organisms.     

Relationship of National Merit Scholarship screening test scores to test data obtained earlier in high school.

Sundry tests given early in a pupil's high school career correlate from .40 to .78 with the National Merit Scholarship screening test in the senior year. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

A note on the use of simultaneous test procedures.

Simultaneous test procedures have been found to be very conservative with respect to Type I errors. The present article emphasizes that simultaneous test procedures are defined for all hypotheses implied by the overall hypothesis and demonstrates that the conservativeness of simultaneous test procedures is most often due to their application to single-variable hypotheses. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)