Reliability and validity of a cost-efficient sociometric measure

Sociometric measures have been used frequently to measure social status; however, reliable sociograms for young children usually involve time-consuming administrations. A group-administered, peer-rating sociogram, the Sociometric Peer-Rating Scale (SPRS), was devised and given to 217 first and second graders. Concomitantly, teacher nominations of children most liked, aggressive, or withdrawn and behavioral observations of the high- and low-SPRS children were obtained. After 7 months, the SPRS was readministered. On a separate population of eight kindergarten children, this sociogram and a similar, individually administered sociogram were given. Normative data, test-retest reliability, and split-half reliability were reported. The test-retest reliability was comparable to the reported reliability of other peer-rating sociograms, and the SPRS correlated significantly with teacher ratings of aggressiveness and likability and with the individually administered sociogram. The number of positive interactions was significantly different for high-versus low-SPRS children. The usefulness of the SPRS as a measure of social competence was discussed.This research was submitted by the author in partial fulfillment of the requirements of a master's degree at the Florida State University.I would like to thank the Master's committee, Wallace Kennedy, William Pelham, and Joseph Torgesen, and the participating schools, Developmental Research School of Florida State University and Woodville Elementary School of the Leon County School District, for their assistance in this study.     

The psychometric properties of several measures of body image

Despite the recent upsurge of interest in the construct of body image, there is relatively little information on the psychometric properties of the instruments used to measure it. This study investigated the reliability and validity of several measures of body image and compared bulimics and normals on these measures. One hundred ten normal weight females, half of whom were diagnosed as bulimic, were administered two measures of affect toward one's body, two measures of perceptions of one's entire body, and three measures of perceptions of the size of specific body sites (face, shoulders, waist, and hips). In themain, the measures provided reliable indices of body image. Examination of the correlation matrix for the measures disclosed convergence for the affective measures of body image and for all but one of the perceptual measures of body image. There was also significant covariation between the affective and the perceptual measures. The multitrait-multimethod technique was used to investigate the construct validity of the measures concerned with perceptions of the size of body sites. The multitrait-multimethod matrices disclosed substantial convergence between perceptions of face, shoulder, waist, and hip size across the three measures. However, the measure which used kinesthetic estimates of body-site size produced low reliabilities and all three of the measures showed substantial method variance. Bulimics and normals differed significantly on both the affective and the perceptual components of body image.This study is based on the first author's masters thesis. Portions of this study were represented at the 1986 meeting of the Southeastern Psychological Association. A grant to the third author from the Anclote Psychiatric Center provided support for this research project.     

An optimal property of least squares weights in prediction models

In predicting scores fromp > 1 observed scores in a sample of sizeñ, the optimal strategy (minimum expected loss), under certain assumptions, is shown to be based upon the least squares regression weights computed from a previous sample. Letting represent the correlation between and the predicted values , and letting represent the correlation between and a different set of predicted values , where w is any weighting system which is not a function of , it is shown that the probability of being less than cannot exceed .50. The relationship of this result to previous research and practical implications are discussed.     

Assessment of children's social skills: A review of methods

Social skills of children is a topic receiving increasing attention, particularly from clinical researchers. The present paper reviews methods that have been used to assess children's social skills. Four methods are identified and described: sociometric instruments, behavioral observations, teacher reports, and child self-reports. Their relationships to one another are examined in terms of predictive, concurrent, and construct validity. It appears that the social skills construct is in need of basic development if it is to have any clinical utility. It is suggested that future research utilize knowledge from fields closely related to clinical psychology (e.g., developmental and social psychology) and methods of assessment from traditional test theory.     

Inclusion: Considerations from social validity and Functional Outcome Analysis

Inclusion and particularly full inclusion has become a hotly debated topic. While proponents of inclusion believe that social, behavioral, academic, and developmental benefits occur for children with disabilities as well as for other, nondisabled, children in the classroom, research into inclusion provides equivocal results. This paper (a) describes inclusion, highlighting the inconsistencies in definitions and research; (b) discusses the importance of social validity in making inclusion decisions; and (c) presents an approach to inclusion using Functional Outcome Analysis (Noell & Gresham, 1993). While inclusion may be philosophically desirable, the research does not support its application as an all-inclusive approach. Inclusion decisions must be made on a case-by-case basis after a functional analysis of the student's behavior has been conducted.     

Temperamental consequences of infant difficultness

Two central issues pertaining to the construct of infant temperamental “difficultness” were investigated in this longitudinal project. First, the cross-time convergent validity of two parent-report measures of temperament was examined. Second, the temperamental consequences of difficultness during infancy were studied by prospectively following children from infancy to adolescence. Additionally, using MANOVA and structural equation modeling, gender comparisons were conducted to determine whether or not the construct of difficultness was similar for males and females. Analyses were based on parent reports (Ns=96−110) of infant difficultness on the Infant Characteristics Questionnaire (ICQ) when children were 18 months of age. The nine temperament dimensions of the New York Longitudinal Study model were also assessed by parent report inventories when children were 2, 3, 3.5, 5, 8, 10, and 12 years old. Results showed no pervasive evidence of gender differences in infant difficultness. Convergent validity between the ICQ and subsequent temperament measures was evidenced by significant cross-time canonical correlations reaching to moderate magnitude and significant bivariate correlations between infant difficultness and specific temperament dimensions. Temperamental difficultness during infancy predicted subsequent adverse temperamental qualities such as unadaptability and negative mood at every age from 2 through 12 years.     

对学前儿童语言学习能力诊断量表的效度评价

以所编制的量表为工具 ,对采集的数据进行效度分析 ,结果表明各分测验与全量表有较好的相关 ,说明量表的内容效度是比较高的。使用因素分析的方法 ,将全部变量作系统分类 ,研究量表的结构 ,绝大部分分测验在所得的四个因素上的共通性都大于 0 .70 ;保留下的分测验与所属因素的相关系数在0 .5 3 -0 .84之间 ,它们在各个因素上有较高的负荷量 ,说明量表有较好的结构效度。从效度分析的结果看 ,本量表的测量结果应该是准确的。另外 ,还根据因素分析结果指示的方向 ,调整了分测验 ,调整后的量表结构不但与假设的量表结构十分吻合 ,而且更条理化。     

项目反应理论在编制现代性量表中的应用

项目反应理论（ＩＲＴ）是近年来探讨较多的一种心理测量理论。由于其所具有的一些优于经典测验理论（ＣＴＴ）的特性,正得到愈来愈多的重视和应用。该研究旨在应用ＩＲＴ来编制现代性量表。人的现代化是整个社会现代化过程中不可缺少的部分,因此编制衡量人的现代性的量表有一定的理论和实践意义。研究结果表明,应用ＩＲＴ编制量表,在满足假设的情况下,可使量表既简便,又有较高的精度,效度研究表明本研究编制的现代性量表有较高的效度。     

区分度和难度分布在测验效度上的效应比较的模拟试验研究

运用计算机模拟试验方法,研究了４种不同的区分度分布和４种不同的难度分布在测验效度上的效应变化规律。结果表明：（１）在难度分布一定的条件下,测验效度随测验中较高区分度的项目数的递增而单调地提高;（２）在区分度分布一定的条件下,测验中的项目难度分布与考生的能力分布相一致时测验放度较高;（３）区分度分布对效度的影响比难度分布的影响更直接。     

“大五”个性因素模型在工作情景中的效度分析

“大五”个性因素模型是目前一种个性分类理论模型 ,它以外向、情绪稳定性、责任意识、随和、开明性等五个因素来描述正常人群的个性特征。本文探讨了在工作情境中运用“大五”模型预测工作绩效 (个体 /团队 )的效度问题。大量的研究表明 ,责任意识能在不同的职业中用来预测个体工作绩效 ;“大五”因素能有效地预测周边绩效 ,但并不是所有的个性因素都能预测任务绩效 ;团队成员的个性组成对团队绩效有显著影响 ;个性与绩效间的关系受到缓冲变量的影响。