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Thesis (M.A.)--University of North Carolina at Wilmington, 2006. / In English and Spanish. Includes bibliographical references (p. 35-40)

Repeated measures designs are widely used in educational and psychological research to compare the changes exhibited in response to a treatment. Traditionally, measures of change are found by calculating difference scores (subtracting the observed initial score from the final score) for each person. However, problems such as the reliability paradox and the meaning of change scores arise from using simple difference scores to study change. A new item response theory model will be presented that estimates latent change scores instead of difference scores, addresses some of the limitations of using difference scores, and provides a direct comparison of the mean latent changes exhibited by different groups (e.g. females versus males). A simulation-based test was conducted to ascertain the viability of the model and results indicate that parameters of the newly developed model can be estimated accurately. Two sets of analyses were performed on the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study-Kindergarten cohort (ECLS-K) to examine differential growth in math ability between 1) male and female students and 2) Caucasian and African American students from kindergarten through fifth grade.

Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) / Ecological momentary assessment (EMA) has been asserted by proponents of the technique as being superior to standard paper-and-pencil measurements in terms of the reliability and validity of the information obtained; however, this claim has not yet been fully evaluated in the literature. Accordingly, the purpose of this study was to evaluate one aspect of this assertion by comparing the utility of EMA and retrospective measures of depressive symptoms in predicting health-relevant biological and behavioral outcomes. It was hypothesized that (1) the EMA measure will have better predictive utility when examining objective sleep quality (a biological outcome), and that (2) the retrospective measure will have better predictive utility when examining blood donation intention (a behavioral outcome). Ninety-six undergraduate females participated in this 2-week study. Depressive symptoms were measured momentarily and retrospectively using the Center for Epidemiological Studies-Depression Scale (CES-D). The biological outcome was assessed by actigraphy, whereas the behavioral outcome was measured via a self-report questionnaire. Unfortunately, it was not possible to fully test these hypotheses due to the failure to observe relationships between the predictor variables and the outcomes. The reported results, although limited, did not provide support for the hypotheses. Supplemental analyses revealed a moderate to high amount of shared variance between the EMA and retrospective measures, a similar extent of random error in both measures, and potentially a greater degree of systematic error in the retrospective measure. Due to the paucity of literature examining the claim of superior reliability and validity of EMA versus retrospective measures, as well as the failure of the current study to evaluate this assertion sufficiently, it appears that this claim remains unfounded. Therefore, suggestions for future research are provided.

Thesis (M. Comm.)--University of South Africa, 2002.

Thesis (MA)- University of Stellenbosch, 2004. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The aim of the present study was to investigate the psychometric properties of the Family Sense of Coherence Questionnaire (FSoC) for use among Northern Sothos. Antonovsky and Sourani developed the FSoC-questionnaire to measure the sense of coherence of families. The family sense of coherence is based on the individual sense of coherence construct, which was developed by Antonovsky. According to Antonovsky, families with a strong sense of coherence will function better than families with a weak sense of coherence. Therefore family functioning was used as criteria to validate the external validity of the FSoC-questionnaire. Olson, Russell and Sprenkle developed the Family Attachment and Changeability Index (FACI-8) to measure family functioning according to the Circumplex model. For the purpose of this study the two questionnaires were translated to Sepedi (the language of the Northern Sotho). The reliability of the two questionnaires was assessed by means of Cronbach-alpha coefficients. The construct validity of the two questionnaires was assessed by means of JOreskog's Goodness of Fit Index (GFI). The statistical analysis was done with Statistica 6 software. The results drawn from the present study indicates that the FSoC-questionnaire is not a reliable and valid instrument to measure families' sense of coherence among Northern Sothos. Significant high correlations with the FACI-8 however, indicated that the FSoC might be considered for use among Northern Sothos, if only the total scores are taken into consideration. The FACI-8 however, proved to be a reliable and valid instrument to measure family functioning according to the Circumplex model among Northern Sothos. The conclusions drawn from the present study are that the FACI-8 is a suitable instrument for use among the Northern Sothos, whereas the FSoC-questionnaire is not. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die doel van die huidige ondersoek was om die psigometriese eienskappe van die Gesinskoherensie-vraelys (FSoC) wat deur Antonovsky en Sourani ontwikkel was, vir gebruik onder Noord-Sothos te bepaal. Om hierdie doeleindes te bereik, was die Gesinsfunksioneringsvraelys (FACI-8) wat deur McCubbin, Thompson en Elver ontwikkel was, as 'n kriterium gebruik om die eksterne geldigheid van die FSoC-vraelys te valideer. Die FACI-8 meet gesinsfunksionering volgens die Kontekstuele-model van gesinsfunksionering, wat deur Olson, Russell en Sprenkle ontwikkel was. Volgens Antonovsky sal gesinne wat oor 'n sterk ontwikkelde koherensiesin beskik, beter funksioneer as gesinne wat oor 'n swak ontwikkelde koherensiesin beskik. Gevolglik was gesinsfunksionering as 'n maatstaf van gesinskoherensie gebruik. Die vraelyste moes eers na Sepedi (die taal van die Noorcl-Sotho) vertaal word, alvorens die vraelyste afgeneem kon word. Die betroubaarheid van die vraelyste was deur middel van Cronbach-alfa koêffisiênte bereken. Die konstrukgeldigheid van die vraelyste was deur middel van JOreskog se Passingstoets bepaal. Die statistiese verwerkings was deur middel van die Statistica 6 rekenaarprogram behartig. Die resultate van die huidige ondersoek dui daarop dat die FSoC-vraelys met omsigtigheid benader moet word vir gebruik onder Noord-Sothos. Die FSoCvraelys het nie bevredigende betroubaarheids- en geldigheidsindekse gelewer nie. Die FSoC-vraelys het wel eksterne geldigheid getoon, wanneer dit met die FACI-8 gevalideer was. Die FACI-8 het betroubare en geldige metings van gesinsfunksionering volgens die Kontekstuele-model onder Noord-Sothos in die huidige ondersoek gelewer. Die gevolgtrekkings wat op grond van die huidige ondersoek gemaak word, is dat die FSoC-vraelys nie bruikbaar is onder Noorcl-Sothos nie, terwyl die FACI-8 wel gebruik kan word om gesinsfunksionering onder Noord-Sothos te meet.

Thesis (M. Comm.)--University of South Africa, 2002.

Thesis (M.A.)--James Madison University, 2009. / Includes bibliographical references.

Increasing focus is being placed on fair assessment practices in South Africa. Most psychological tests used in this country were designed and developed in other countries. Research has shown that when using these tests on a different target population, it is important to determine the suitability of the test for that population. This involves investigating reliability, validity and possible sources of bias. It is equally important to have local normative data with which scores can be compared and interpreted. Research in this area has been limited. The purpose of this study was to undertake such research by evaluating a widely used test, the Raven's Coloured Progressive Matrices (RCPM), and its existing norms, for Zulu children in South Africa. The study also aimed to provide raw data, which could be used to assist with the compilation of local norms. The test was administered to a convenience sample of 522 primary school children between the ages of 5 and 12 years old. The sample was divided into two groups to represent two different geographical locations: rural and urban. The sample consisted of 284 rural children and 237 urban children. There were 263 males and 259 females in the sample. Findings indicated good test reliability for this sample. Test validity however could not be confirmed as possible sources of bias at the content and item levels were shown. Age had a significant effect on performance, but level of education appeared to be the strongest predictor of performance on the RCPM for this sample. Significant gender differences were found. There was a tendency for males to outperform females on the test. Location had a significant effect on scores, where urban children performed better than rural children. Comparison of Zulu sample scores with those produced by the British standardisation sample, revealed a large discrepancy in performance between the two different cultural groups. The Zulu sample mean scores were significantly lower than the British mean scores. These findings highlight the need for locally developed normative data. The validity of the test for the sample requires further investigation. Results indicate that test adaptation may be required for Zulu children. / Thesis (M.A.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2005.

In this research, an attempt is made to evaluate the music program of a typical high school in terms of its contribution to the development of pupils who show evidence of possessing musical talent. One of the aims of modern education is to help pupils develop emotional stability, desirable attitudes, and worthy ideals. In other words, the purpose is to teach pupils to feel, as well as to know and do. Music can be powerful force in fulfilling this aim. The purpose of this report is to apply the results of the Pitch and Tonal Memory tests of the Seashore Measures of Musical Talent and the results of the Kuder Preference Record to the building of a Program Music in Borger High School.