Extending research on the Marsh/Shavelson model of self-concept, a set of 14 academic self-concept scales was related to school performance in 8 school subjects for a sample of 507 high school students. Correlations between matching areas of self-concept and achievement (0.45 to 0.70; mean r=.57) were substantial and larger than correlations…

Explores the concept of construct validity in the context of a public examination. Multitrait-multimethod analysis and factor analysis were used. Discusses the analyses in terms of theory versus practical components and experimental versus observational investigation in practical components. Sample items for the practical examinations are…

Describes a new approach for analyzing an individual's responses made at multiple times. Proposes that three sources of variance determine a person's current standing on a variable: trait (term does not change), state (term changes), and error (random term). Shows how structural equation modeling can be used and presents an extended example. (RJM)

Construct validity of a prototype baccalaureate generic problem solving skills test was explored through a structural analysis. The assessment method used three real-life problem situations crossed by six generic skills, namely Decision-Making, Communication, Analysis, Synthesis, Valuing and Execution. There were six written responses for each…

Assigned factor scores to therapist and client utterances. Constructed a 17 x 17 correlation matrix consisting of correlations across 4 lagged utterances. Principal-components analysis revealed 4 therapist-client interaction factors: mutual therapeutic engagement, mutual therapeutic negotiation, undirected client reminiscence, and sustained…

Examined discourse of bereaved individuals using computer-based text analyses. Compared discourse structure of low-distress bereaved individuals, high-distress bereaved subjects, and a single bereaved individual. Meaningful differences between the distress groups and the single individual indicate possible quantitative and qualitative means for…

Self/other agreement between self-concept ratings by the individual and self-concepts inferred by significant others is of theoretical and practical importance, but the review by J. S. Shrauger and T. J. Schoeneman (1979) found no evidence for such agreement. In the present investigation, the Self Description Questionnaire III (SDQIII) was…

Two large samples of high school teachers were rated for teaching effectiveness by the teachers and by their students, using the IDEA Form H. Factor analyses yielded highly similar underlying dimensions. Convergent validity coefficients were significant for all factors, supporting the validity of student ratings. (Author/GDC)

Over the past 15 years a body of research has investigated organizational transitions in adolescent development. Researchers studying school transitions exclusively ask whether significant transition affects students' social and psychological development. To test the presence of transition effects, researchers have typically observed mean…

The authors analyzed the domain specificity of emotions and focused on experiences of enjoyment, anxiety, and boredom in the domains of mathematics, Latin, German, and English. On the basis of assumptions in R. Pekrun's (2000; in press) control-value theory and findings of pilot studies, the authors hypothesized the existence of a largely…

The construct validity of four self-concept (SC) traits (general SC, academic SC, English SC, mathematics SC), as measured by three different scales (Likert, semantic differential, Guttman) for low- (n=252) and high-track (n=588) Canadian high school students, was assessed using both the Campbell-Fiske criteria, and a comparison of hierarchically…

The advantages of applying confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) to multitrait-multimethod (MTMM) data are widely recognized. However, because CFA as traditionally applied to MTMM data incorporates single indicators of each scale (i.e., each trait/method combination), important weaknesses are the failure to: (1) correct appropriately for measurement…

The construct validity of 14 measures used in college faculty personnel decisions was evaluated through a multitrait-multimethod matrix for data from 89 faculty members in 7 departments. The three-pronged model of teaching, research, and service was not validated. Exploratory factor analysis identified five or six behavior domains for evaluation.…

To examine the utility of a self-report scale of sexual assault trauma, 223 female victims were interviewed with the 43-item Sexual Assault Symptom Scale II (SASS II) at 1, 3, 7, 11, and 15 months postassault. Factor analyses using principal-components extraction with an oblimin rotation yielded 7 common factors with 31 items. The internal…

In this study, the author tested the reliability, concurrent validity, and predictive validity of three hemispheric cognitive style instruments: (a) the Preference Test (PT; R. Zenhausern, 1978), (b) the Polarity Questionnaire (PQ; B. E. Morton, 2002), and (c) the Wagner Preference Inventory II (WAPI II; R. F. Wagner & K. A. Wells, 1985).…