A guide to the use of microcomputer statistical analysis packages for loglinear analysis describes the application of one popular package to a straightforward problem and critically surveys features available in four of the leading packages. Survey findings and suggestions for further development are included. (Author/MSE)

Canonical weights and structure correlations are used to construct low dimensional views of the relationships between two sets of variables. These views, in the form of biplots, display familiar statistics: correlations between pairs of variables, and regression coefficients. (SLD)

D. R. Divgi (1986) demonstrated that the bias of unconditional maximum likelihood (UCON) item-parameter estimates is not removed by the factor (n-1)/n. D. Andrich (1989) argued that the demonstration was faulty. In this note, a complete proof of Divgi's conclusion is presented. (Author/TJH)

Describes the differences between English and Chinese information retrieval and the problems with Chinese character entry and encoding. It is argued that regular expression searching facilitates Chinese character entry and retrieval. Mathematical models are developed for controlling noisy characters retrieved by regular expressions containing…

An item response model for multiple-choice items is described and illustrated in item analysis. The model provides parametric and graphical summaries of the performance of each alternative associated with a multiple-choice item. The illustrative application of the model involves a pilot test of mathematics achievement items. (TJH)

A new estimation method, Weighted Likelihood Estimation (WLE), is derived mathematically. Two Monte Carlo studies compare WLE with maximum likelihood estimation and Bayesian modal estimation of ability in conventional tests and tailored tests. Advantages of WLE are discussed. (SLD)

Multilinear formula scoring (MFS) is reviewed, with emphasis on estimating option characteristic curves (OCSs). MFS was used to estimate OCSs for the arithmetic reasoning subtest of the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery for 2,978 examinees. A second analysis obtained OCSs for simulated data. The use of MFS is discussed. (SLD)

Simulation techniques were used to generate conventional test responses and track the proportion of alternatives examinees could classify independently before and after taking the test. Finite-state scores were compared with these actual values and with number-correct and formula scores. Finite-state scores proved useful. (TJH)

Monte Carlo techniques were used to examine regression approaches to external unfolding. The present analysis examined the technique to determine if various characteristics of the points are recovered (such as ideal points). Generally, monotonic analyses resulted in good recovery. (TJH)

The "word problem" is stated for a given collection. Facts regarding Dehn's Algorithm, definition of Thue systems, a rewriting system, lemmas and corollaries are provided. The situation is examined where the monoid presented by a finite Thue system is a group. (DC)

A natural parameterization and formalization of the problem of measuring change in dichotomous data is developed. Mathematically-exact definitions of specific objectivity are presented, and the basic structures of the linear logistic test model and the linear logistic model with relaxed assumptions are clarified. (SLD)

A new method, based on loglinear models, is proposed for statistical analysis of dyadic social interaction data measured over time. The data are assumed to be realizations of a social network of a fixed set of actors interacting on a single relation. Associative and predictive statistical models are developed. (TJH)

It is argued that human memory is adaptively designed and that much can be learned by understanding its adaptiveness. The information-retrieval problem is framed, and optimal memory behavior is derived. Applying this framework to the classic free-recall paradigm is discussed. (SLD)

A model was developed for estimating individuals' true changes on test scores using the additional information provided by an auxiliary variable correlated with a trait being measured. This provides an improved and more precise estimate when compared with simple difference scores. It involves the reliability of "X" scores only. (SLD)

A simple procedure for establishing convergent and discriminant validity is presented, as an alternative to the LISREL-based nested model used by R. P. Bagozzi (1978) and K. F. Widaman (1985). Ordinary least-squares regression is used, with the correlation between measures as the dependent variable. (SLD)