The triangular decomposition method is suggested as a general technique for obtaining the various measures of an ill-conditioned matrix. The advantages of using triangular decomposition are computing nicety, cost, and parsimony. (Author/PN)

Tau, Lambda, and Kappa are measures developed for the analysis of discrete multivariate data of the type represented by stimulus response confusion matrices. The accuracy with which they may be estimated from small sample confusion matrices is investigated by Monte Carlo methods. (Author/LMO)

The test proposed by Brien, Venables, and Mayo (1984), endorsed by Silver and Dunlap, and supported by computer software that they developed is not a proper test for multivariate independence. A revised appraisal is suggested for the Silver and Dunlap results. (SLD)

Since computer programs have been available for estimating and testing linear causal models, these models have been used increasingly in the behavioral sciences. This paper discusses the problem that very different causal structures may fit the same set of data equally well. (Author/LMO)

C. L. Olson (1976, 1979) suggests the Pillai-Bartlett trace (V) as an omnibus multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) test statistic for its superior robustness to heterogeneous variances. J. Stevens (1979, 1980) contends that the robustness of V, Wilk's lambda (W) and the Hotelling-Lawley trace (T) are similar, and that their power functions…

Type I error rates of four multivariate tests (Pilai-Bartlett trace, Johansen's test, James' first-order test, and James' second-order test) were compared for heterogeneous covariance matrices in 360 simulated experiments. The superior performance of Johansen's test and James' second-order test is discussed. (SLD)