An analysis of self-report delinquency data using four non-metric procedures for structural analysis revealed support for the existence of a general delinquency factor. However, offenses of low seriousness and victimless offenses (drinking and drug-taking items) were only weakly related to this general factor. (Author/CTM)

This study assessed whether slides of lighting arrangements could adequately simulate results from real space. Data indicated that in many important respects the results for the slides matched those for the real space for ratings on semantic differential scales, but that less consistent results were obtained for multidimensional scaling.…

An introduction to a Special issue of the Journal of Social Issues (JSI) by the guest editor, which reviews psychology's concerns with race relations and race related issues during the fifties, sixties and seventies, summarizes past JSI issues pertinent to those issues, and introduces the ten articles in this issue. (Author/JM)

This study analyzed social interaction ratings of field independent and dependent students in a Personalized System of Instruction course. Field dependent student pairs rated themselves as having interacted more than field independent students. There were no significant differences in ratings of field independent student pairs or mixed pairs. (MBR)

Graduate psychology students were presented with statistical concepts and asked to rate their similarity-dissimilarity. Multidimensional scaling was used to judge how students organized the concepts. Results showed that the students were able to organize the materials into a meaningful structure only after the concepts were presented in an…

Data on the semantic proximity of classical mechanics concepts, obtained by means of a cross-sectional investigation (100 subjects) using a continued word association test, were analyzed by individual difference multidimensional scaling to permit the mapping of semantic space for individual subjects. (JC)

International comparative educational studies make use of test instruments originally developed in English by international panels of experts, but that are ultimately administered in the language of instruction of the students. The comparability of the different language versions of these assessments is a critical issue in validating the…

Many students in the United States who are required to take educational tests are not fully proficient in English. To address this problem, a state-mandated testing program created dual language English-Spanish versions of some of their tests. In this study, the psychometric properties of the English and dual language versions of a fourth-grade…

Alternatives to multidimensional scaling analysis of numerical relationship judgments in extracting information about students' knowledge were investigated. Undergraduate students completed a multiple choice test over knowledge of individual concepts, an essay test covering relationships among concepts, and a relationship judgment test that…

The outcomes of two scoring methods (one based on an error analysis and the second on a conventional method) on free-response tests, compared in terms of reliability and dimensionality, indicates the conventional method is inferior in both aspects. (Author/PN)

Describes multidimensional scaling and cluster analysis and the type of problems they can help solve. Cites major literature sources concerning their use. Reviews applications of these methods in rehabilitation research. Discusses possible advantages of nonmetric data-reduction techniques over metric approaches, such as factor analysis. (Author)

Results indicate that (1) voters' attitudes toward the candidates, issues, and parties stabilized after the election and (2) the first two debates were the most important events of the campaign with their greatest effects being felt between one and two weeks after the events. (PD)

Used aggregate ratings of teacher behavior as data for a multitrait-multimethod validity analysis. Scaled ratings using Rasch latent trait scaling model and traditional scaling techniques. Compared Rasch-scaled multitrait-multimethod matrix to the traditionally scaled multitrait-multimethod matrix. Results showed Rasch scaling resulted in higher…

Sex-typed and androgynous subjects rated the similarity of handwritings on masculinity-femininity and also rated the writings on an absolute scale of masculinity-femininity. The data supported the hypothesis that subjects who monitor their own behavior on a given dimension are more sensitive to cues in others relating to that dimension. (Editor/RK)

Multidimensional scaling (MDS) and its potential use for research and evaluation in health-related professions are discussed. Useful data types, interpretation of results, and various applications of MDS are presented. MDS is less restrictive than factor analysis since it does not assume a linear relationship between the objects/variables of…