This paper discusses the impact of sampling error on the construction of confidence intervals around effect sizes. Sampling error affects the location and precision of confidence intervals. Meta-analytic resampling demonstrates that confidence intervals can haphazardly bounce around the true population parameter. Special software with graphical…

Whether one should use null hypothesis testing, confidence intervals, and/or effect sizes is a source of continuing controversy in educational research. An alternative to testing for statistical significance, known as equivalence testing, is little used in educational research. Equivalence testing is useful in situations where the researcher…

Outcomes evaluation of community partnerships to prevent substance abuse poses many methodological challenges. The nine articles of this special section illustrate the variety of approaches evaluators have taken to studies that are often complicated because of small sample size. (SLD)

Analysis of 19 studies using omnibus analysis of variance (ANOVA) F-tests resulted in reasons for replacing ANOVA with focused hypothesis testing, which is easy to compile and understand; is flexible; enables trend analysis, determination of confidence intervals, adjustments for violated assumptions, and control of Type 1 errors; makes effect size…

A rigorous method is outlined for using information from a previous study and explicitly taking into account the variability of an effect size estimate when determining sample size for a chi-squared test. This approach assures that the average power of all experiments in a discipline attains the desired level. (SLD)

A Monte Carlo study evaluated the effectiveness of different factor analysis extraction and rotation methods for identifying the known population multiple-indicator measurement model. Results demonstrate that exploratory factor analysis can contribute to a useful heuristic strategy for model specification prior to cross-validation with…

A class of two-stage models is developed to accommodate three common characteristics of behavioral data: (1) its multivariate nature; (2) the typical small sample size; and (3) the possibility of missing observations. The model, as illustrated, permits estimation of the full spectrum of plausible measurement error structures. (SLD)

Methods for approximating confidence intervals for the population standardized mean difference (delta) were evaluated analytically in small samples. An empirically determined simple linear adjustment to the sample delta demonstrated the most consistent precision when used to construct confidence intervals for the delta parameter. (SLD)

Large sample multivariate methods for estimating and comparing effect sizes across independent samples within a single study are presented. Procedures for pooling treatment effects are provided to allow determination of overall study effect sizes for treatments with similar effects prior to implementation of meta-analyses. (TJH)

A method is presented for determining sample size that will achieve a pre-specified bound on confidence interval width for the interrater agreement measure "kappa." The same results can be used when a pre-specified power is desired for testing hypotheses about the value of kappa. (Author/SLD)

Examines the sampling error in the lead of one political party over another as observed in a random sample of voters. Investigates the sample size needed to achieve a certain precision. (Author/MKR)

Reviews the research on sampling for daily newspapers and explores various sampling techniques for weekly newspapers. Contrasts different sample types to assess their utility in representing weekly newspaper content. Uses five content measures and tests three sampling techniques: simple random sampling and two "constructed year" samples,…

An empirical typology of behavior styles was developed to define distinct variations of healthy, marginal, at-risk, and maladjusted behavior using a stratified national sample of 1,400 youths aged 5 to 17 years. Results are compared with recent epidemiological studies, and application of the typology is demonstrated. (SLD)

A modification of the TUCKALS3 algorithm is proposed that handles three-way arrays of order I x J x K for any I. The reduced work space needed for storing data and increased execution speed make the modified algorithm very suitable for use on personal computers. (SLD)

Computation of a one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) "F" ratio from descriptive statistics in the absence of raw data is corrected from two sources. Means associated with inferential statistical hypotheses are identified as estimable population parameters. (Author)