Recognizes some of the limitations of the field of behavioral genetics, but argues that the methods employed in multivariate behavior genetics and developmental behavior genetics have become the dominant paradigms in the field. (MDM)

Criticizes the application of the statistical procedures of the population-genetic approach within evolutionary biology to the study of psychological development. Argues that the application of the statistical methods of population genetics--primarily the analysis of variance--to the causes of psychological development is bound to result in a…

Argues that a truly developmental behavior genetics will have to go beyond the traditional quantitative approach of population genetics in order to produce developmental explanatory content about differences and similarities in developmental outcomes. (MDM)

Comments on some methodological limitations of the research base of "The Bell Curve": blind use of the normal distribution (bell curve); avoidance of nonnormal statistical distributions, which are more appropriate for some social and economic characteristics; copious use of percentiles and quintiles, inappropriate with nonnormal…

In the educational research literature alpha, the a priori level of significance, and p, the a posteriori probability of obtaining a test statistic of at least a certain value when the null hypothesis is true, are often confused. Explanations for this confusion are offered. Paradoxically, alpha retains a prominent place in textbook discussions of…

Calls attention to limitations and dangers in routine application of multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA), describes some alternative procedures, and laments the necessarily pervasive character of the statistical problem. (Author)

Examines the claim in a recent paper that biotechnology develops in a self-organizational mode, which is empirically supported by a multivariate analysis of documents from core biotechnology journals showing a relationship between title words and region of origin. This paper argues that this claim is an artifact of the method used. (Author/MES)

While the author and Raymond Cattell approach personality study differently, their similar conclusions reveal their constructs and theories as complimentary, not contradictory. They agree on major issues: the existence of general personality traits with consistent associated behaviors, the relevance of multivariate studies, and the importance of…

Presents several multivariate analyses of variance (MANOVA) test procedures. Discusses guidelines for choosing an overall MANOVA test statistic and post hoc tests that determine the dependent variable or variables responsible for any significant effects. Concludes that guidelines based on recent comparisons of the various test statistics be used.…

A survey done properly by accepted and scientifically justifiable techniques can provide information on behalf of the goals of institutional advancement in academe. Deficiencies in institutional research are seen as the result of the lack of guidance on survey design, questionnaire construction, or problem definition in education research texts.…

Traditionally the unit of analysis in marital research has been the individual spouse. More recently the marital relationship has often been defined as a process of interaction and dynamic exchanges such that spouses have autonomous needs as well as corporate needs for interdependence. Thus modern systems theory heightens the importance of both…

Raymond Cattell's efforts to sort out the relationships of genetic or environmental patterns to personality factors have contributed to behavior genetics. Early writings on the projected decline of intelligence in Britain, studies using Multivariate Abstract Variance Analysis, and other miscellaneous studies on personality factors and mental…

In this overview of his research in personality theory, Cattell describes the play of people, situations, and, ideas enacted over 30 years in his University of Illinois laboratory. Establishing meaningful empirical measurement methods was the foundation for further research into many aspects of personality development. (BS)