One reason the fear of success (FOS) literature is confusing and contradictory is because the FOS construct is not being reliably measured across studies. Current scoring guidelines are insufficient for ensuring the reliable measurement of this construct. (RC)

Obtained asymptotic standard errors of item, test, and score information function estimates, and used numerical illustrations to show that the response function estimates are rather stable in spite of the unstable parameter estimates. However, information function estimates are shown to be relatively unstable. (SLD)

Describes an item response theory-based structural equation model that allows the short-term stability and the magnitude of retest effects to be assessed for some types of personality traits. Provides an empirical application of the model and discusses the substantive implications of the results. (SLD)

Compared approaches to determining the precision of gain scores: (1) the asymptotic normal distribution of the maximum likelihood estimator of the person parameter; and (2) the exact conditional distribution of the gain score. Use of three data sets illustrates that these methods yield more relevant and more detailed information than traditional…

Two methods for estimating the reliability of a computerized adaptive test (CAT) without using item response theory are presented. The data consist of CAT and paper-and-pencil scores from identical or equivalent samples, and scores for all examinees on one or more covariates, using the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery. (TJH)

Examines the relationship between Cronbach's coefficient alpha and the reliability of a composite of a prespecified set of interrelated nonhomogeneous components through simulation. Shows that alpha can over- or underestimate scale reliability at the population level. Illustrates the bias in terms of structural parameters. (SLD)

Staff members of the Psychology department at the University of Oregon rated each other's height on five rating scales representative of those found in social psychology. Average ratings proved to be very good estimates of height. (Author/JKS)

Option weighting is an alternative to increasing test length as a means of improving the reliability of a test. The effects on test reliability of option weighting procedures were compared in two empirical studies using four independent sets of items. Biserial weights were found to be superior. (Author/CTM)

The reliabilities of two sociometric tests were compared when administered to three and four-year olds. The full-rank order instrument, the Paired-Comparisons Sociometric Test (PCST), was found to have greater test-retest reliability than the partial-rank order test, the Picture Sociometric Interview (PSI). (GDC)

A general coefficient for tests, delta, is derived from a decision theoretic point of view. The situations are considered in which a true score is estimated by a function of the observed score, observed scores are split into more than two categories, and observed scores are split into only two categories. (Author/CTM)

A reliability study is illustrated in which subjects are judged on a dichotomous trait by different sets of judges, possibly unequal in number. A kappa-like measure of reliability is proposed, its correspondence to an intraclass correlation coefficient is pointed out, and a test for its statistical significance is presented. (Author/CTM)

This paper explores the use of K. G. Joreskog's congeneric modeling approach to reliability using censored quantitative variables. In addition, the compound problem of non-normality and attenuation that occurs when estimating censored continuous variables is discussed. (TJH)

The reliability coefficient is predicted from the test information function (TIF) or two modified TIF formulas and a specific trait distribution. Examples illustrate the variability of the reliability coefficient across different trait distributions, and results are compared with empirical reliability coefficients. (SLD)

An approximate statistical test is derived for the hypothesis that the intraclass reliability coefficients associated with two measurement procedures are equal. Control of Type 1 error is investigated by comparing empirical sampling distributions of the test statistic with its derived theoretical distribution. A numerical illustration is…

Simulations demonstrate the effects of correlated errors on the person-by-occasion design in which the confounding effect of equal time intervals results in correlated error terms in the linear model. Two specific error correlation structures were examined. Conditions under which underestimation and overestimation occur are discussed. (SLD)