The impact of outliers on Cronbach's coefficient [alpha] has not been documented in the psychometric or statistical literature. This is an important gap because coefficient [alpha] is the most widely used measurement statistic in all of the social, educational, and health sciences. The impact of outliers on coefficient [alpha] is investigated for…

The purpose of this study is to determine the latent structure of the California Verbal Learning Test-Second Edition (CVLT-II; Delis, Kramer, Kaplan, & Ober, 2000) at three different age levels, using the standardization sample. Maximum likelihood confirmatory factor analyses are performed to test four competing hypothetical models for fit and…

Determination of the intentions of the test developer is fundamental to the choice of the analytical model for a rating scale. For confirmatory analysis, the developer's intentions inform the choice of the general form of the model, representing the manner in which the respondent interacts with the scale; these intentions also inform the choice of…

A common problem in practical educational research is that of perfect scores which result when latent trait models are used. A simple procedure for managing the perfect and zero response problem encountered in converting test scores into measures is presented. It allows the test user to chose among two or three reasonable finite representations of…

The usefulness of path analysis as a means of better understanding various linear models is demonstrated. First, two linear models are presented in matrix form using linear structural relations (LISREL) notation. The two models, regression and factor analysis, are shown to be identical although the research question and data matrix to which these…

A maximum likelihood estimation procedure is developed for the simple and the weighted additive models. The data are assumed to be taken by either one of the following methods: (1) categorical ratings--the subject is asked to rate a set of stimuli with respect to an attribute of the stimuli on rating scales with a relatively few observation…

The usefulness of the sets of cases developed in a previous technical report are examined as potential tests of leadership. Each set of cases generates, from a single subject, a number of scores which can be logically derived and which have substantial face validity. The intercorrelations among the scores, their split half reliability, and the…

To study the applicability of simple structure logic for factorial data from scientific disciplines outside psychology, four correlation matrices from each of six scientific areas were factor analyzed by five factoring methods. Resulting factor matrices were compared on two objective criteria of simple structure before and after rotation.…

The applicability of the Analysis of Variance, ANOVA, procedures to the analysis of dichotomous repeated measure data is described. The design models for which data were simulated in this investigation were chosen to represent simple cases of two experimental situations: situation one, in which subjects' responses to a single randomly selected set…

TO DEVELOP A BETTER MATHEMATICAL BASIS FOR FACTOR ANALYSIS, A MATHEMATICAL APPROACH WAS FORMULATED FOR FIXING COMMUNALITIES AND THEIR COMPLEMENTS, UNIQUENESSES, AS WELL. WHILE THE INVESTIGATOR WAS UNABLE TO PROVE THAT MINIMUM-TRACE CRITERIA FIX COMMUNALITIES UNIQUELY, A SET OF IDENTITIES AND INEQUALITIES WAS LOCATED AMONG THE COMMUNALITIES AND,…

A general statistical model for the multivariate analysis of mean and covariance structures is described. Matrix calculus is used to develop the statistical aspects of one new special case in detail. This special case separates the confounding of principal components and factor analysis. (DEP)

A procedure for estimating the reliability of a factorially complex composite is considered. An application of its use with Scholastic Aptitude Test data is provided. (Author/JKS)

The Cartesian theory of dimensionality (defined in terms of geometric distances between points in the test space) and Leibnitzian theory (defined in terms of order-generative connected, transitive, and asymmetric relations) are contrasted in terms of the difference between a factor analysis and an order analysis of the same data. (Author/CTM)

Two sets of five items each from the Law School Admission Test were analyzed by two methods of factor analysis, and by the Krus-Bart ordering theoretic method of multidimensional scaling. The results indicated a conceptual gap between latent trait theoretic procedures and order theoretic procedures. (Author/CTM)

Solutions for the indeterminate common factor of a group of variables satisfying the single common factor model are not unique. This paper examines a number of thereoms concerning that problem and draws conclusions from them for factor analysis in general. (Author/JKS)