Journalism

George E. Stevens and John B. Webster's Law and the Student Press (Ames: Iowa State University Press, 1973---price not given, paper)

Jerome L. Nelson's Libel. A Basic Program for Beginning Journalists (Ames: Iowa State University Press, 1973---price not given, paper)

Art of the Printed Book: 1455-1955 (New York: Pierpont Morgan Library, 1973---$20.00/11.00)

Bruce Buschel, Albert Robbins, William Vitta, and Rod Nordland's The Watergate File (New York: Quick Fox Inc., 33 West 60th St., 1973---$3.95, paper)     

Tongan secondary students’ conceptions of schooling in New Zealand relative to their academic achievement

This study examines the relationship between Tongan students’ attitudes and beliefs towards their school experiences and their academic achievement on the high-stakes National Certificate of Educational Achievement (NCEA) assessments in English and mathematics. Data were obtained from using previously published self-reported inventories on a sample of Tongan senior students in New Zealand secondary schools. Confirmatory factor analysis of students’ conceptions found good fit measurement models for each domain (teaching, learning, and assessment). Structural equation modelling was used to identify the effect of the various beliefs upon students’ total score in each subject and upon internal and externally assessed performance. It was noted that different beliefs became statistically significant predictors of performance, depending on the subject and type of assessment. Nonetheless, all three constructs played some role in at least one subject. A small-to-moderate proportion of variance in NCEA performance could be attributed to student beliefs, suggesting that efforts to help students adopt adaptive beliefs will have beneficial consequences for those students.     

Evaluation of True Criterion Validity for Unidimensional Multicomponent Measuring Instruments in Longitudinal Studies

Longitudinal studies offer unique opportunities to identify the specificity variance in the components of a psychometric scale that is administered repeatedly. This article discusses a procedure for evaluation of the relationship between true scale scores and criterion variables uncorrelated with measurement errors in longitudinally presented measures comprising unidimensional multicomponent instruments. The approach provides point and interval estimates of the true scale criterion validity with respect to a criterion that is assessed once or repeatedly, as well as a means for testing temporal stability in this validity. The outlined method is based on an application of the latent variable modeling methodology, is readily applicable with popular software, and is illustrated using empirical data.     

Popular Music

Brad Benedict and Linda Barton's Phonographics: Contemporary Album Cover Art and Design (New York: Collier Books/Macmillan Publishing, 1977—$9.95, paper)

George McCue, ed. Music in American Society, 1776-1976: From Puritan Hymn to Synthesizer (New Brunswick, N.J.: Transaction Inc., 1977—$14.95/3.95)

Dean Tudor and Andrew D. Armitage, comps. Popular Music Periodicals Index, 1975 (Metuchen, N.J.: Scarecrow Press, 1976—$15.00)

Derek Jewell, Duke: A Portrait of Duke Ellington (New York: Norton, 1977—$9.95)

Stanley Dance, The World of Earl Hines (New York: Scribner's, 1977—$14.95/7.95     

Historical research as a foundation for teaching applied issues in publishing

Historical research benefits students of publishing in three ways. First, it provides an accurate account of what happened in the past. Second, by setting contemporary issues in a historical context, it helps identify trends. Finally, it encourages curiosity and learning about one’s cultural and intellectual heritage. Parker provides examples of research that serve these purposes. George L. Parker is professor and head of the Department of English and Philosophy at the Royal Military College of Canada, Kingston, Ontario. He teaches Canadian and American literature, has coedited an anthology,The Evolution of Canadian Literature in English: Beginnings to 1970, has contributed to theDictionary of Canadian Biography, and has publishedThe Beginnings of The Book Trade in Canada (1985).