| Abstract: | Given a sample of variables from a universe of variables measuring an unlimited number of different properties, and assuming that the most likely additional variables to be found in the universe are those differing from the sample variables by arbitrarily small amounts, it is argued that the most likely inference about the communality of a sample variable in the context of the universe is the reliability of the variable. All true variance in a sample of variables should thus be used in inferring common variance in the universe. (15 ref.) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved) |
