Fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA) has become one of the most prominent methods in the social sciences for capturing causal complexity, especially for scholars with small- and medium-"N" data sets. This research note explores two key assumptions in fsQCA's methodology for testing for necessary and sufficient…

It is common practice for assessment programs to organize qualifying sessions during which the raters (often known as "markers" or "judges") demonstrate their consistency before operational rating commences. Because of the high-stakes nature of many rating activities, the research community tends to continuously explore new…

Data analysis techniques can be used to analyze the pattern of data in different fields. Based on the analysis' results, it is recommended that suggestions be provided to decision making authorities. The data mining techniques can be used in educational domain to improve the outcome of the educational sectors. The authors carried out this research…

A method based on the likelihood ratio procedure is presented for use in selecting a measurement model from among the Rasch, two-parameter, and three-parameter logistic latent trait models. (Author/BW)

A common functional relationship among Lotka's law, Bradford's law, and Zipf's law is derived. The proof takes explicit account of the sequences of observed values of the variables by means of an index. This approach results in a more realistic and precise formulation of each law. (Author/EM)

Whether the one- or two-factor Wechsler or weighted sum scores (WSS) structural models adequately fit the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children III (WISC-III) covariance matrices was studied with samples of 2200 and 1118 children from previous studies. Both the WSS and supplemented models provided better fit than Wechsler's model but still…

The influence of sample size (N) and model parsimony on a set of 22 goodness of fit indices was investigated, including those typically used in confirmatory factor analysis and some recently developed indices. For sample data simulated from 2 known population data structures, values for 6 of 22 fit indices were reasonably independent of N and were…

The Pearson and likelihood ratio statistics are frequently used for assessing the absolute fit of probability models. Researchers are often interested in comparing fits provided by different models which may have a subsuming or non-subsuming relation. A subsuming relation exists when the parameters of the reduced model form a subset of those…

A Bradley-Terry type model for paired comparisons is considered which allows for individual parameters and corresponding parameters for the choice-alternatives. Model is applied to data from a Danish investigation of blue collar attitudes towards alternative social gains. Model is compared to one suggested by Schonemann and Wang. (RC)

Using several data sets, the relative performance of the beta binomial model and two more general strong true score models in estimating several indices of classification consistency is examined. It appears that the beta binomial model can provide inadequate fits to raw score distributions compared to more general models. (TJH)

The robustness of the likelihood ratio difference statistic to the violation of a regularity condition when used to assess differences in fit provided by pairs of latent class models was investigated. Recommendations are made regarding the use of the statistic under violation of the regularity condition. (SLD)

A live tailored testing study was conducted to compare the results of using either the one-parameter logistic model or the three-parameter logistic model to measure the performance of college students on multiple choice vocabulary items. The results of the study showed the three-parameter tailored testing procedure to be superior to the…

Two recent indices of fit, the Relative Noncentrality Index (RNI) (R. P. McDonald and H. W. Marsh, 1990) and the Comparative Fit Index (P. M. Bentler, 1990), are shown to be algebraically equivalent in most applications, although one condition in which the RNI may be advantageous for model comparison is identified. (SLD)

Compared the fit of several Item Response Theory (IRT) models to two personality assessment instruments using data from 13,059 individuals responding to one instrument and 1,770 individuals responding to the other. Two- and three-parameter logistic models fit some scales reasonably well, but not others, and the graded response model generally did…

The robustness of the Johnson-Neyman technique and analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) to violations of assumptions of homoscedasticity and homogeneity of variance was tested through the use of Monte Carlo computer procedures. The study simulated a one-way, fixed-effects analysis with two treatment groups, one criterion, Y, and one covariate, X. Five…