How Well Does the Sum Score Summarize the Test? Summability as a Measure of Internal Consistency

Many researchers use Cronbach's alpha to demonstrate internal consistency, even though it has been shown numerous times that Cronbach's alpha is not suitable for this. Because the intention of questionnaire and test constructers is to summarize the test by its overall sum score, we advocate summability, which we define as the proportion of total test variation that is explained by the sum score. This measure is closely related to Loevinger's H. The mathematical derivation of summability as a measure of explained variation is given for both scale and dichotomously scored items. Using computer simulations, we show that summability performs adequately and we apply it to an existing productive vocabulary test. An open‐source tool to easily calculate summability is provided online ( https://sites.google.com/view/summability ).     

Big change through small action

Many of us strive to improve our efforts but can be overwhelmed by a variety of perceived obstacles. Wendy Young, Chris Ehrhart, and Greg Meyer describe how they made incremental steps within their personal sphere of influence that resulted in significant change.     

Abduktion, Induktion – Konfusion

When education research speaks of category-building, a reference is usually made to “induction”. The empirical confirmation of existing laws would also occure inductively, as is the data also collected inductively. The ambiguous use of this term contradicts a unified understanding of the logic of research. With reference to the American philosopher Charles Sanders Pierce, an alternative theory of knowledge acquisition through “abduction” has been discussed recently. This paper contributes to this debate. A unified and (logic-)philosophically adequate reflexion of results of investigations from interpretative social research will be proffered using a structural look at the process of knowledge acquisition and securing knowledge.     

吐蕃国相尚纥心儿事迹补述——以敦煌本羽77号为中心

羽077号的《本阐晡为宰相就灵龛祈愿文》、《某判官为国相尚纥心儿祈愿文》和《赞普祈愿文》,记载了公元818年顷,在敦煌举办的与吐蕃宰相尚纥心儿相关的三次佛事祈愿活动,主办人分别为钵阐布、专使大判官和赞普(名义),反映尚纥心儿第二次短暂住敦煌期间曾一度想辞官事佛,但又不得不重新出山的情景过程。尚纥心儿一生前后三次到敦煌,晚年又在敦煌建造圣光寺。     

机械产品加速模拟试车法研究及推广应用

本系统介绍了以短时间的产品加速模拟试车法，阐述了设计理论和试车规程的编制依据。     

The Effects of Extinction in the Treatment of Sleep Problems with a Child with a Physical Disability

Sleep problems are common among young children with developmental disabilities. In many cases, parental attention has shaped and reinforced these problems. In the present study, extinction of parental attention was effective in the elimination and long-term maintenance of nighttime crying with a young child with a physical disability.