Despite having drawn from empirical evidence and cumulative prior expertise in the formulation of research questions as well as study design, each study is treated as a stand-alone product rather than positioned within a sequence of cumulative evidence. While results of prior studies are typically cited within the body of prior literature review,…

This study investigated the differences between Arab and American distance learners' preference in the 2 components of transactional distance (structure and interaction) and their relation to learners' self-efficacy and help seeking. The study sample consisted of 95 cases from each group (N = 190). Study results indicated significant differences…

This article describes empirical and theoretical results from two multi-attribute sequential search tasks. In both tasks, the DM sequentially encounters options described by two attributes and must pay to learn the values of the attributes. In the "continuous" version of the task the DM learns the precise numerical value of an attribute when she…

Developed a full maximum likelihood method for obtaining joint estimates of variances and correlations among continuous and polytomous variables with incomplete data that are missing at random with an ignorable missing mechanism. Simulation results and an empirical example illustrate the approach. (SLD)

Developed a new estimator for the population squared multiple correlation using maximum likelihood estimation. Data from 72 air control school graduates demonstrate that the new estimator has greater accuracy than other estimators with values that fall within the parameter space. (SLD)

Developed an extension of the general latent variable growth curve modeling framework to four levels of the hierarchy. The extension merged two common analytical approaches: full information maximum likelihood (ML) latent growth modeling and limited information multilevel latent growth modeling using an ML estimator. Results for data from 250…

Developed a method, based on the conditional maximum likelihood principle, for establishing latent change classes in dichotomous data. Simulation studies and a real data set from an earlier study illustrate the method of parameter estimation. (SLD)

Presents a method for the estimation of ultrametric trees calibrated on subjects' pairwise proximity judgments of stimuli, capturing subject heterogeneity using a finite mixture formulation. An empirical example from published data shows the ability to deal with external constraints on the tree topology. (Author/SLD)

Presents a multidimensional Rasch-type item response model, the multidimensional random coefficients multinomial logit model, which is developed in a form that permits generalization to the multidimensional case of a wide class of Rasch models. Derives marginal maximum likelihood estimators for the model. (SLD)

A variety of distributional assumptions for dissimilarity judgments in multidimensional scaling are considered, with the lognormal distribution being favored for most situations. Procedures for maximum likelihood estimation in this setting are described and examples are presented. (Author/JKS)

Consistent, asymptotically efficient and asymptotically normal stepwise estimators are given for a subclass of the uniparametric and multiparametric exponential families. Estimators are derived from the Robbins-Monro stochastic approximation procedure with certain families of random variables arising from the normalized log-likehood. Three…

This paper establishes a loss function for the alpha factor analysis. Some analogies to the maximum likelihood factor analysis are discussed. (Author/BW)

A binomial test for hierarchical dependency is presented. The null hypothesis is that all members of a population who possess a certain skill are a subset of the members who possess another skill. The model, assumptions, formula derivations, and procedures for the test are explained. An illustrative hypothesis is provided. (Author/LMO)

A maximum likelihood procedure is developed for multidimensional scaling where similarity or dissimilarity measures are taken by such ranking procedures as the method of conditional rank orders or the method of triadic combinations. An example is given. (Author/JKS)

The polychoric correlation is discussed as a generalization of the tetrachoric correlation coefficient to more than two classes. Two estimation methods are discussed: maximum likelihood estimation, and what may be called "two-step maximum likelihood" estimation. For the latter method, the thresholds are estimated in the first step.…