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ERIC Number: EJ878554
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2010-Mar
Pages: 8
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1040-3590
EISSN: N/A
Taxometrics, Polytomous Constructs, and the Comparison Curve Fit Index: A Monte Carlo Analysis
Walters, Glenn D.; McGrath, Robert E.; Knight, Raymond A.
Psychological Assessment, v22 n1 p149-156 Mar 2010
The taxometric method effectively distinguishes between dimensional (1-class) and taxonic (2-class) latent structure, but there is virtually no information on how it responds to polytomous (3-class) latent structure. A Monte Carlo analysis showed that the mean comparison curve fit index (CCFI; Ruscio, Haslam, & Ruscio, 2006) obtained with 3 taxometric procedures--mean above minus below a cut (MAMBAC), maximum covariance (MAXCOV), and latent mode factor analysis (L-Mode)--accurately identified 1-class (dimensional) and 2-class (taxonic) samples and produced taxonic results when applied to 3-class (polytomous) samples. From these results it is concluded that using the simulated data curve approach and averaging across procedures is an effective way of distinguishing between dimensional (1-class) and categorical (2 or more classes) latent structure. (Contains 3 tables, 1 figure and 2 footnotes.)
American Psychological Association. Journals Department, 750 First Street NE, Washington, DC 20002-4242. Tel: 800-374-2721; Tel: 202-336-5510; Fax: 202-336-5502; e-mail: order@apa.org; Web site: http://www.apa.org/publications
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Evaluative
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A