A sequential Scheffé‐type respecification procedure for controlling type I error in exploratory structural equation model modification

Regarding post hoc structural equation modeling modification, Kaplan (1990) noted in his response to Steiger (1990), “As there is currently no analogous Scheffé test, the best we can do is to free those restrictions that have the highest probability of being wrong” (p. 201). This article proposes just such an analog to the Scheffé test to be applied to the exploratory model‐modification scenario. This method is a sequential finite‐intersection multiple comparison procedure, controlling the Type I error rate to a desired alpha level across the set of all possible post hoc model modifications.     

High School Success: A Learning Strategies Intervention to Reduce Drop-Out Rates

The Urban Review - The transition into high school is a critical time to act for students with a history of academic difficulty. In this study, researchers examined the impact of a learning...     

Intellectual capital and new ventures: the entrepreneur's cognizance of company management

The purpose of this research is to analyse the intellectual capital gauges most often utilized by entrepreneurs in the management of new ventures and to relate the use of these gauges to business performance. On the basis of interview data collected from 103 entrepreneurs, we provide evidence that the use of such measuring techniques impacts positively on overall business performance. Moreover, the results indicate that those entrepreneurs utilizing some form of intellectual capital (IC) measurement have superior results. Consequently, we highlight the importance of detecting, measuring and utilizing IC for new ventures stressing the potential benefits that such analysis can have on the initial steps taken by an entrepreneur in venture formation and business development.     

Digital ITEMS Module 2: Scale Reliability in Structural Equation Modeling

In this ITEMS module, we frame the topic of scale reliability within a confirmatory factor analysis and structural equation modeling (SEM) context and address some of the limitations of Cronbach's α. This modeling approach has two major advantages: (1) it allows researchers to make explicit the relation between their items and the latent variables representing the constructs those items intend to measure, and (2) it facilitates a more principled and formal practice of scale reliability evaluation. Specifically, we begin the module by discussing key conceptual and statistical foundations of the classical test theory model and then framing it within an SEM context; we do so first with a single item and then expand this approach to a multi‐item scale. This allows us to set the stage for presenting different measurement structures that might underlie a scale and, more importantly, for assessing and comparing those structures formally within the SEM context. We then make explicit the connection between measurement model parameters and different measures of reliability, emphasizing the challenges and benefits of key measures while ultimately endorsing the flexible McDonald's ω over Cronbach's α. We then demonstrate how to estimate key measures in both a commercial software program (Mplus) and three packages within an open‐source environment (R). In closing, we make recommendations for practitioners about best practices in reliability estimation based on the ideas presented in the module.     

Influences of population size and density on birthplace effects

Contextual influences on talent development (e.g., birthplace effects) have become a topic of interest for sport scientists. Birthplace effects occur when being born in a certain city size leads to participation or performance advantages, typically for those born in smaller or mid-sized cities. The purpose of this study was to investigate birthplace effects in Portuguese volleyball players by analysing city size, as well as population density – an important but infrequently used variable. Participants included 4062 volleyball players (M_age = 33), 53.2% of whom were men. Using Portuguese national census data from 1981, we compared participants (within each sex) across five population categories. In addition, we used ANOVAs to study expertise and population density. Results indicated that men and women athletes born in districts of 200,000–399,999 were 2.4 times more likely to attain elite volleyball status, while all other districts decreased the odds of expert development. For men, being born in high-density areas resulted in less chance of achieving expertise, whereas there were no differences for women. The results suggest that athletes’ infrastructure and social structure play an important role in talent development, and that these structures are influenced by total population and population density, respectively.     

Emotional and Cognitive Coping in Relationship Dissolution

Dissolution of a romantic relationship can adversely affect functioning among college students and represents one primary reason for seeking campus counseling. This study examined the associations among common coping strategies and distress following relationship dissolution. Avoidance and repetitive negative thinking (RNT) were significantly associated with distress, and gender was found to moderate the relationship between RNT and distress. Findings suggest that college counselors should consider emotional coping strategies following relationship dissolutions.     

Guided Design: A Case Study Approach to Enhance Problem-Solving

Guided design is a systematic approach to instruction which is centered upon the learner's ability to solve open-ended problems that typify the situations he or she will experience as a professional in the field. The content is taught by self-instructional materials that have been systematically developed. The problem-solving process is taught using group projects that are designed to afford maximum utilization of the content in solving the problem presented by the case.     

WISC,WISC-R,S-B L&M,WRAT: Relationships and trends among children ages six to ten referred for psychological evaluation

Thirty children ages 6-10 were selected who had been referred for psychological evaluation from the public schools. WISC-R was significantly lower than WISC FS IQs and similar to S-B L&M IQs (1972). Each scale predicts reading, spelling, and achievement in a significant manner. The use of the WISC-R over the WISC will rosult in greater numbers of children being classified as retarded.     

Rorschach variables and their relationship to WISC-R IQ among children referred

Eighty-eight children ages six to seventeen referred for psychological evaluation had been administered the Rorschach test (Exner system) and the WISC-R, among other tests, for diagnostic purposes. The data were analyzed in order to determine relationships between Rorschach variables and WISC-R IQ levels. Significant relationships were found between groups for the variables FM + m and ep, after which prediction formulas were developed for estimates and use of verbal terminology associated with IQ levels.