Describes two invariance tests, the jackknife procedure and Procrustean rotation, and applies them in a discriminant analysis for this heuristic study. Invariance testing helps to prevent overemphasis on findings of statistical significance and overgeneralization of a research result, and thus is gaining favor as an indicator of result importance.…

Discriminant analysis was used to predict the performance of medical students on a certifying examination, using available measures approximately seven months in advance of the examination. The purpose was to identify those students having the greatest chance of failing in order to provide them with remedial help. The linear discriminant function…

A study of the predictive validity of Tinto's theory of college student attrition is described. Compensatory interaction between levels of goal and institutional commitment indicated that institutional commitment had its greatest positive influence on retention for students with low levels of commitment to completing a college degree, and vice…

This study's main purpose was to determine whether or not standard predictors of college success'' might perform more satisfactorily than usual if a 2-valued criterion based on dropouts was employed. (Author)

Used discriminant analysis in an attempt to differentiate nonviolent and violent families as a function of variables said to be significant predictors of family violence in a decade review by Gelles. Results indicate that the predictor variables fail to account consistently for differences among the groups. (Author)

Results of this study of eight liberal arts colleges, traditionally women's colleges, suggest that multiple-discriminant analysis provides a rigorous and practical basis for adding an important and largely unexplored between-group dimension to studies in the prediction of within-group performance. (Editor/LBH)

The Assessment of Basic Learning Abilities test (ABLA) is a useful tool for choosing appropriate training tasks for persons with developmental disabilities. This test assesses the ease or difficulty with which persons are able to learn six hierarchically positioned discrimination tasks. A visual-visual nonidentity matching prototype task was…

The Computerized Adaptive Screening Test (CAST) was developed to provide an estimate at recruiting stations of prospects' Armed Forces Qualification Test (AFQT) scores. The CAST was designed to replace the paper-and-pencil Enlistment Screening Test (EST). The initial validation study of CAST indicated that CAST predicts AFQT at least as accurately…

The utility of multiple discriminant analysis in predicting career interests in six specialities of engineering--aeronautical, chemical, civil, electrical, industrial and mechanical engineering--was studied. Freshman engineers at Purdue University were administered the Purdue Interest Questionnaire (PIQ). Multiple discriminant analysis was…

The purpose of this study was to identify characteristics which describe high school dropouts. The investigation attempted to identify variables which would assist in differentiating persisters and withdrawals at Northeast High School in Kansas City, Missouri and in predicting dropouts at East High School on the basis of variable weightings drawn…

Three approaches to the prediction of juvenile recidivism--factor analysis, stepwise multiple regression, and stepwise discriminant analysis--are contrasted. Stepwise discriminant analysis provided the most consistent selection of variables in the data set used. Problems and advantages of the three approaches are discussed. (Author/JKS)

This study examined career teachers' allocation of extra work time within a conceptual framework influencing time use. Distinct groups prefering instructional tasks; student, or parent, counseling; or committee activities were identifiable in a prediction model. Teachers selected professional time uses congruent with their perceived skills and…

Specific aim of the study was to determine the predictive accuracy of selected observations obtained during developmental periods on later developmental outcome. (Authors)