Neglect the Structure of Multitrait-Multimethod Data at Your Peril: Implications for Associations With External Variables

In 1959, Campbell and Fiske introduced the use of multitrait–multimethod (MTMM) matrices in psychology, and for the past 4 decades confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) has commonly been used to analyze MTMM data. However, researchers do not always fit CFA models when MTMM data are available; when CFA modeling is used, multiple models are available that have attendant strengths and weaknesses. In this article, we used a Monte Carlo simulation to investigate the drawbacks of either using CFA models that fail to match the data-generating model or completely ignore the MTMM structure of data when the research goal is to uncover associations between trait constructs and external variables. We then used data from the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Study of Early Child Care and Youth Development to illustrate the substantive implications of fitting models that partially or completely ignore MTMM data structures. Results from analyses of both simulated and empirical data show noticeable biases when the MTMM data structure is partially or completely neglected.     

Toward Improving the Modeling of MTMM Data: A Response to Geiser,Koch, and Eid (2014)

Geiser, Koch, and Eid (2014) expressed their views on an article we published describing findings from a simulation study and an empirical study of multitrait–multimethod (MTMM) data. Geiser and colleagues raised concerns with (a) our use of the term bias, (b) our statement that the correlated trait–correlated method minus one [CT–C(M–1)] model is not in line with Campbell and Fiske’s (1959) conceptualization of MTMM data, (c) our selection of a data-generating model for our simulation study, and (d) our preference for the correlated trait–correlated method (CT–CM) model over the CT–C(M–1) model. Here, we respond to and elaborate on issues raised by Geiser et al. We maintain our position on each of these issues and point to the interpretational challenges of the CT–C(M–1) model. But, we clarify our opinion that none of the existing structural models for MTMM data are flawless; each has its strengths and each has its weaknesses. We further remind readers of the goal, findings, and implications of our recently published article.     

Fostering a “head start” in math: observing teachers in early childhood mathematics engagement

ABSTRACT

Studies show that early engagement with mathematics leads to increased math achievement later in life. Yet, early childhood teachers do not regard mathematics as critical to young learners’ development and lack confidence with helping children learn mathematics. Early childhood teacher comfort and engagement with mathematics is a critical element to promoting intentional math instruction. Research was conducted to examine the effects of an innovative professional development program for Head Start preschool teachers with the goal of increasing pedagogical content knowledge and confidence in teaching mathematics. The findings in this article focus on classroom observations that concentrated on teacher engagement with mathematics.     

Tutoring in mathematics: a generic method

A pilot study is reported of a generic method for tutoring in mathematics, intended to be suitable for use by peers, parents and volunteers in a wide range of applications. Thirty children aged 9–10 years of below average mathematical ability were randomly allocated to experimental or control conditions. Experimental tutees (n=17) were tutored in mathematical problem solving at home by their parent(s) using the method, while control children (n=13) received traditional maths problem homework. Pre‐ and post‐test assessment of both groups involved a criterion‐referenced mathematics test in parallel forms and a scale of attitudes to mathematics. Experimental tutors completed a pre‐test questionnaire on attitudes to mathematics and home‐school links, and experimental tutees and tutors engaged in a post‐test debriefing interview. On the attainment test, the experimental group gained significantly, while the control group did not. Male tutees gained more than females. No significant pre‐post differences were evident on the tutee attitude questionnaire. However, interview feedback from both tutees and tutors was generally positive. Given the brevity of the pre‐ to post‐test interval, the finding of positive differences in attainment was considered encouraging. Recommendations for future research were made.     

Increasing Student Interest and Engagement with Business Cases by Turning Them into Consulting Exercises

How can you get undergraduate students more interested and engaged with business cases? Instead of using the traditional case teaching format, turn the case into a consulting exercise. Give students only the managerial dilemma and some starting information, form them into consulting teams, and then have each team requests additional case information by submitting a restricted number of questions. Through successive rounds, teams will gather enough information and data to analyze the situation and develop a set of recommendations. This approach transforms case‐based learning from a passive analysis of case details to an active process of discovery through smart questioning.     

Lost in Narration: Applying Autoethnography

The authors convey a story of getting lost in narration, on an applied and collaborative research project in which they combined autoethnography (AE), mindfulness, and relational communication. They examine common criticisms of AE in an effort to more accurately narrate how the method operates communicatively and resonates with commitments of applied communication research. This tale ends with a few invitational morals that are directed to skeptics and practitioners of AE.     

Influences of politics and economics upon photographic content in Chinese newspapers

During the mid‐1980s political pressure upon Chinese journalists decreased, financial pressure upon their newspapers increased and photojournalism gained importance. This study compares the content of photographs in three ‘official’ and three hybrid ‘official‐commercial’ Chinese newspapers. Photographs were found to be less important in ‘official’ newspapers. Subjects and values of concern to government and Party leaders appeared more frequently in ‘official‐commercial’ papers. This study also shows that in a period of political and economic reform, diversity exists in photographic news content and that photographs frequently serve public interests.     

7. German and Scandinavian Media Studies

CRITICAL IDEAS IN TELEVISION STUDIES by John Corner (New York: Oxford University Press “Oxford Television Studies,”; 1999—$52.00/19.95, ISBN 0–19–874221–5 hard, ISBN 0–19–874220–7 paper, 139 pp., references, index)

USES OF TELEVISION by John Hartley (London: Routledge, 1999—$75.00/22.99, ISBN 0–415–08508‐X hard, 0–415–08509–8 paper, 246 pp., figures and pictures, appendixes, references, index)

WAVES OF RANCOR: TUNING IN THE RADICAL RIGHT by Robert L Hilliard and Michael C. Keith (Armonk, NY: M.E. Sharpe “Media, Communication, and Culture in America,”; 1999—$32.95, ISBN 0–7656–0131–1, 288 pp., appendices, notes, index)

THE HIDDEN SCREEN: LOW‐POWER TELEVISION IN AMERICA by Robert C. Hilliard and Michael C. Keith (Armonk, NY: M.E. Sharpe, 1999—prices not given, ISBN 0–7656–0419–1 hard, 0–7656–0420–5, 212 pp., photos, notes, further reading, index)

ACTIVE RADIO: PACIFICA'S BRASH EXPERIMENT by Jeff Land (St. Paul: University of Minnesota Press “Commerce and Mass Culture,”; 1999—$42.95/16.95, ISBN 0–8166–3156–5 hard, 0–8166–3157–3 paper, 179 pp., photos, notes, bibliography, program index, text index)

MAKING SENSE OF TELEVISION: THE PSYCHOLOGY OF AUDIENCE INTERPRETATION by Sonia Livingstone (London: Routledge “International Series in Social Psychology,”; 1998 [2nd ed.]—$85.00/25.99, ISBN 0–415–18623–4 hard, 0–415–18536‐X paper, 212 pp., tables, bibliography, author and subject indexes)

TELEVISION: A MEDIA STUDENT'S GUIDE by David McQueen (London: Arnold, 1998—$55.00/18.95, ISBN 0–340–719764 hard, 0–340–70604‐X paper, 275 pp., illustrations, suggested readings, index)

HANDBOOK ON RADIO AND TELEVISION AUDIENCE RESEARCH by Graham Mytton (New York: UNICEF House, 1999 [Rev. and expanded ed.]—$20.95, paper, ISBN 92–806–3393–7, 191 pp., appendices, bibliography, glossary, references)

A BROADCAST ENGINEERING TUTORIAL FOR NON ENGINEERS (Washington, DC: NAB, 1999 [2nd ed.]—$49.95/29.97, paper, ISBN 0–89324–275–6, 209 pp., diagrams, index)

DIGITAL TELEVISION IN A DIGITAL ECONOMY: OPPORTUNITIES FOR BROADCASTERS by A. T. Kearney (Washington, DC: NAB, 1998— $164.99/98.99, paper, ISBN 0–89324–316–7, about 100 pp., charts, tables, notes, glossary)

NAB ENGINEERING HANDBOOK edited by Jerry Whitaker, et al (Washington, DC: NAB, 1999 [9th ed.]—$379.95/228.00, ISBN 0–089324–258–6, 1,572 pp., charts, diagrams, tables, chapter references and bibliography, CD‐ROM disc, index)

STATION CONSOLIDATION: A TECHNICAL PLANNING GUIDE FOR RADIO STATIONS by the NAB Science &; Technology Department (Washington, DC: NAB, 1997—$89.95/53.97, paper, ISBN 0–89324–311–6, 80 pp., diagrams, maps, appendices)

TOWER SITE REGULATION HANDBOOK by the NAB Science &;. Technology Department (Washington, DC: NAB, 1998—$99.95/59.95, paper, ISBN 0–89324–312–4, 533 pp., tables, diagrams, appendices)

UNITED STATES RBDS STANDARD: SPECIFICATION OF THE RADIO BROADCAST DATA SYSTEM (RBDS) by the National Radio Systems Committee of the Electronic Industries Association and the National Association of Broadcasters (Washington, DC: NAB, 1998—$49.95/29.97, paper, no ISBN provided, 202 pp., diagrams, tables, glossary, annexes)

RACE IN SPACE: THE REPRESENTATION OF ETHNICITY IN STAR TREK AND STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION by Micheal C. Pounds (Lanham, MD: Scarecrow Press, 1999—$32.50, ISBN 0–8108–3322–0, 252 pp., figures, tables, notes, references, index)

PLAYERS ALL: PERFORMANCE IN CONTEMPORARY SPORT by Robert E. Rinehart (Bloomington: Indiana University Press “Drama and Performance Studies,”; 1998—$35.00 /15.95, ISBN 0–253–33426–8 hard, 0–253–21223–5 paper, 188 pp., notes, index)

DIRECTING FOR TELEVISION: CONVERSATIONS WITH AMERICAN TV DIRECTORS by Brian G. Rose (Lanham, MD: Scarecrow Press, 1999—$32.50, ISBN 0–8108–3591–6, 227 pp., index)

BROADCASTING FREEDOM: RADIO, WAR, AND THE POLITICS OF RACE, 1938–1948 by Barbara Dianne Savage (Chapel Hill: University of North Carolina Press “John Hope Franklin Series in African American History and Culture,”; 1999—$45.00/18.95, ISBN 0–8078–2477–1 hard, 0–8078–4804–2 paper, 391 pp., illustrations, photos, notes, bibliography, and index)

TELEVISION AND NEW MEDIA AUDIENCES by Ellen Seiter (New York: Oxford University Press “Oxford Television Studies,”; 1999—$65.00/19.95, ISBN 0–19–871152–5 hard, 0–19–871141–7 paper, 154 pp., photos, bibliography, index)

UNTOUCHABLES by Tise Vahimagi (London: British Film Institute, 1998 [available from Indiana University Press]—$19.95, paper, ISBN 0–85170–563–4, 112 pp., photographs, index)