The essential process in a family of measurement models

Five members of the Rasch family of latent trait models which have appeared more or less independently in the literature are brought together and identified as one model. In addition to sharing the distinguishing characteristic of the dichotomous Rasch model—separable person and item parameters and hence sufficient statistics—all five models share a common algebraic form and have as their basic element the fundamental process defined by Rasch's simple logistic expression. In these models, the sufficient statistics for person and item parameters are counts of events constructed to be indicative of the variable being measured, and the measures they enable are ‘fundamental’.     

Minimal conditions for additive conjoint measurement and qualitative probability

Axioms for additive conjoint measurement and qualitative probability are given. Representation theorems and uniqueness theorems are proved for structures that satisfy these axioms. Both Archimedean and nonarchimedean cases are considered. Approximations of infinite structures by sequences of finite structures are also considered.     

Short report: The impact of measurement conditions on the validity of self-assessment in a selection setting

Two experimental studies investigated the impact of format and instructions on the validity of SAs, using participants applying for junior management positions in a public sector organization. In Study 1 (607 participants) self-assessments (SAs) were valid when applicants rated overall competencies or the same competencies broken down into discrete elements, but not when providing behavioural evidence prior to rating competencies. The effect of social comparison instructions was also explored but found to have no impact on validity. Study 2 used a subset of 193 candidates from the previous study who attended the next stage of the selection process. Consistent with predictions it was found that unbalanced, positively toned scales were more valid than conventional scales, and highest validities were achieved when used with instructions requesting a realistic SA of strengths and weaknesses. Interestingly, gender differences were found in both studies. These findings are discussed in terms of their implications for both research and practice.     

The essential moral self

It has often been suggested that the mind is central to personal identity. But do all parts of the mind contribute equally? Across five experiments, we demonstrate that moral traits—more than any other mental faculty—are considered the most essential part of identity, the self, and the soul. Memory, especially emotional and autobiographical memory, is also fairly important. Lower-level cognition and perception have the most tenuous connection to identity, rivaling that of purely physical traits. These findings suggest that folk notions of personal identity are largely informed by the mental faculties affecting social relationships, with a particularly keen focus on moral traits.     

The measurement of mood

Due to unfortunate choices of response scale and psychometric model earlier analyses of mood adjective check lists have given a confused and complex picture of the area. When an adequate response scale was applied and a simplex rather than a common factor analysis model was utilized it was found, in two empirical studies, that mood was possible to describe with a few bipolar factors. A theory is suggested where mood is seen as basically two-dimensional: one dimension being activity and the other pleasantness. More or less specific definitions of the content of experience with reference to the situation may then be used to define further dimensions, such as social orientation.     

The measurement of conformity

Allport'sJ-curve hypothesis of conforming behavior and its attendant treatment of appropriate data are criticized on the following points: (1) narrowness of application; (2) flexibility of interpretation of results; (3) arbitrary selection of a criterion of conformity; (4) lack of a means by which the extent of conformity in one situation can be compared with that in another; (5) inequality of telic units. As an alternative treatment of such data, the method of higher moments is suggested and rationalized. Data from Allport and Solomon are reworked by this method and results compared.     

The clinical picture of essential myoclonus

Familial essential myoclonus, a rare hereditary disease, is characterized by spontaneous myocloni without any other neurological and psychic symptoms. The report deals with two sisters who suffered from the disease and in whose family the syndrome occurred in two more generations. The outlook for a favourable therapeutic effect is limited. The prognosis is good.     

The essential nature of borderline psychopathology

We suggest that the core features of borderline personality disorder (BPD) are the intense inner pain commonly reported by borderline patients and the awkward means they use to manage and express this pain. In this model, the pain has both affective and cognitive components. The awkward means of managing and expressing this pain are behavioral and interpersonal in nature. The etiology of these core features of BPD seems to lie in the interaction of a kindling event or events, which can be traumatic or normative in nature, and a vulnerable or hyperbolic temperament. The treatment and nosological implications of this model are discussed.     

The measurement of factor indeterminacy

Results obtained by Guttman [1955] on the determinacy of common factors have been thought to have disturbing consequences for the common factor model. It is argued that factors must be thought of as unobservable, and uniquely defined but numerically indeterminate. It follows that Guttman's measure of indeterminacy is inconsistent with the foundations of the factor model in probability theory, and the traditional measures of factor indeterminacy used by earlier writers should be reinstated. These yield no disturbing conclusions about the model.