According to two decades of research, parental sexual orientation does not affect overall child development. Researchers have not found significant differences between offspring of heterosexual parents and those of lesbian and gay parents in terms of their cognitive, psychological, or emotional adjustment. Still, there are gaps in the literature…

Studied the usefulness of the Multidimensional Random Coefficient Multinomial Logit model using a collection of embedded assessments administered to 541 students in middle school science classes. Findings illustrate the usefulness and good fit of the multidimensional approach in contrast to a unidimensional approach. (SLD)

Studied the extent to which the INFIT and OUTFIT item fit statistics in WINSTEPS detect violations of the invariance property of Rasch measurement models. The analysis, based on a large number of high school students, shows that relying solely on INFIT and OUTFIT to assess model fit would cause the researcher to miss an important threat to…

Studied the results provided by two strategies for fitting data to Latent Trait Theory models, Total-Persons-Items (TPI) and Total-Items-Persons (TIP). To assess these strategies, 30 items measuring religious attitudes were administered to 821 persons. Results show that TPI maximizes the number of persons with good fit, and TIP maximizes the…

Extended work in comparing item fit statistics and principal component analysis as tools for assessing the unidimensionality requirements of Rasch models and demonstrated methods to explore how violations of the unidimensionality requirement influence person measurement through 2 studies involving simulated rating scale data and responses to a…

Studied whether the characteristics of the optimal categorization identified by Rasch analysis in a previous study could be maintained when the revised scale was applied to the same population (206 members of the original adult sample). Overall, the Rasch model fit well, and similar change patterns were observed in two category statistics provided…

Offers a critical analysis of the residual fit statistics of the Rasch model, demonstrating that Rasch fit analysis is not as simple as it appears to be. Calls for the use of residual-free Rasch fit statistics that are based on the number of Guttman response errors or indices that are optimal statistically for detecting measurement disturbances.…

Explores the nature of fit and provides a historical overview of fit indices. Focuses on a family of fit indices based on the Pearsonian chi-square approach to fit to show why it is necessary to use a family of standardized indices to understand the relationship between the data and the model. (Author/SLD)