Estimates of the internal consistency and reliability of the first principal component are provided through the use of the largest characteristic root and associated vector of the equicorrelation matrix. The estimate of the internal consistency is also shown to be a lower bound for the measure provided by Horn (1969). (Author)

Described is a Fortran computer program for an alternative algorithm for Thurstone's pair comparisons method. This algorithm provides an improved capacity for handling indeterminate proportions of one and zero as well as untruncated estimates of population scale values. (Author/JKS)

Discusses the redesign of educational systems and presents a designing matrix to help select boundaries of a new system. A conceptual framework for exploring educational system boundaries is described, systems models are discussed, and the three cells of the matrix are explained. (LRW)

Rasch measurement is preferable to factor analysis for reducing complex data matrices to unidimensional variables because factor analysis can mistake ordinally labeled stochastic observations for linear measures, and it does not construct linear measurement. Guidelines and instructions on how to use Rasch measurement to replace factor analysis are…

The common marketing research practice of standardizing the columns of a persons-by-variables data matrix prior to clustering the entities corresponding to the rows was evaluated with 10 large-scale data sets. Results indicate that the column standardization practice may be problematic for some kinds of data that marketing researchers used for…

Examines the similarities and fundamental differences between procedural programing and logic programing by comparing LogoWriter and PROLOG. Suggests that PROLOG may be a good first programing language for students to learn. (MVL)

Within covariance structural analysis, a unified approach to asymptotic theory of alternative test criteria for testing parametric restrictions is provided. More general statistics for addressing the case where the discrepancy function is not asymptotically optimal, and issues concerning power analysis and the asymptotic theory of testing-related…

The DEDICOM (decomposition into directional components) model provides a framework for analyzing square but asymmetric matrices of directional relationships among "n" objects or persons in terms of a small number of components. One version of DEDICOM ignores the diagonal entries of the matrices. A straightforward computational solution…

This commentary praises the clustering technique of data gathering from clients described by Carney (1992). It also cautions that analyzing qualitative data by quantitative means must be done with care, so that a matrix analysis and resulting interpretation of data gathered through the clustering technique, as Carney suggests, is valid and…

A globally optimal solution is presented for a class of functions composed of a linear regression function and a penalty function for the sums of squared regression weights. A completing-the-squares approach is used, rather than calculus, because it yields global minimality easily in two of three cases examined. (SLD)

The fundamental problems that ipsative measures impose for factor analysis are shown analytically. Normative and ipsative correlation matrices are used to show that the factor pattern induced by ipsativity will overwhelm any factor structure seen with normative factor analysis, making factor analysis not interpretable. (SLD)

A flexible data analysis approach is proposed that combines the psychometric procedures seriation and multidimensional scaling. The method, which is particularly appropriate for analysis of proximities containing temporal information, is illustrated using a matrix of cocitations in publications by 18 presidents of the Psychometric Society.…

Describes instructional design theory at the micro level and offers practical examples that may be applied to bibliographic instruction. The Performance-Content Matrix, a classification scheme for categorizing learning objectives according to their specified level of performance and type of content, is explained; and Merrill's Component Display…

In confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), models exist that are admissible and demonstrably identified where the factor loading matrix from latent to manifest variables is of less than full column rank, even though other models are not identified. Implications for CFA are discussed. (SLD)

Introduces a schema for classifying research in mathematics education that deepens and extends the Romberg/Bourne Model. Employs dual hierarchical systems, one related to the research task and the other to research technique. (Author/CCM)