Gary K. Burger

Estimating Factor Scores for Children's Reports of Parental Child-Rearing Behaviors

Summary Two studies compared methods of estimating factor scores for the Childs Report of Parental Behavior Inventory. In Study I, least squares factor scores for 5th and 6th graders were computed and correlated with estimates obtained by multiple regression, weighted summation, and unweighted summation with either (a) all scales best defining each factor, (b) the three best, or (c) the two best defining scales. All three estimation methods were highly accurate, and estimates obtained with three and even two scales per factor still correlated highly with the factor scores. In Study 11, factor scores for college students were correlated with estimates obtained by multiple regression and unweighted summation of the same subsets of scales. Again both estimation methods were highly accurate, and reducing the number of scales did not markedly reduce the correspondence of estimated scores to exact scores.

Prototypical Profiles of the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale

Three prototypical profiles of the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS; Overall & Gorham, 1962) were isolated using a Q-type factor-analytic strategy with a sample of homeless men with mental illness (N =165). The 3 profiles-depressed, actively psychotic, and withdrawn-were used to study changes in BPRS profiles over time in a control group and a group that received assertive community treatment (ACT). Over 2 time periods (inception to 12 months and 12-24 months), the 2 groups did not differ in terms of changes in profile shape, but they did differ in terms of changes in profile elevation. The ACT group evidenced a decrease in symptom severity during the last 12 months, whereas the control group showed an increase. Although changes in profile shape in both groups did occur, there was a significant tendency for the shape of the BPRS profiles to remain stable from the inception of the study to the 12-month assessment and from that time to the 24-month assessment. We describe the uses of these prototypical profiles and discuss the applicability of this analytical approach to other assessment instruments.

Client outcomes and the working alliance in the client-case manager relationship: a causal analysis.

This study investigated the causal relationship between the working alliance and client outcomes in the client–case manager relationship. All 162 study participants received services from a case manager who worked as a member of an assertive community treatment team. All participants had both a substance use disorder and a diagnosis of severe mental illness and were homeless at baseline. A brief form of the Working Alliance Inventory (WAI) was used to measure the working alliance after 3 and 15 months of treatment. The Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale was used to measure psychiatric symptoms at baseline, 9, and 18 months. Days per month that clients used alcohol or illegal drugs was also assessed at baseline, 9, and 18 months. The data were analyzed using structural equation modeling (SEM). The correlations between the working alliance and the outcome measures were lower than similar correlations obtained in studies investigating the psychotherapy relationship. The SEM analyses revealed little or no causal relationship between the working alliance and client outcome in this sample.

SPECIAL INCOMPLETE SENTENCES TEST FOR UNDERACHIEVERS: FURTHER RESEARCH

Three brief studies are presented. In Study I the original validation group of normal high school students and underachievers for the Special Incomplete Sentences Test are shown to give different responses on this test from high school students who are extremely high achievers. Study II presents a factor analysis of the test scores. Study III shows several significant correlations with anxiety scores. The positive findings indicate that further research and consideration are warranted.