Richard D. Warren

An Errors-In-Variables Analysis of Managerial Role Performance

Abstract A linear model with measurement error in the independent variables is considered. An errors-in-variables procedure is presented that provides estimators of the coefficients and their variances. If the dependent variable has multiple measures, the total variance of the dependent variable can be decomposed into measurement error, variance of true values explained by the true values of the independent variables and variance of true values not explained by the model. An application to the measurement of role performance is presented.

Correlated Denominators in Multiple Regression and Change Analyses

Sociological and demographic research often uses variables computed as ratios. When the denominators are highly correlated, or identical, and the ratios are used in correlation or regression analysis, a statistical dependency is formed. Interpre tations and inferences may be difficult to make and misleading. This article has two basic purposes. The first is to show how this problem expands from bivariate correlation and regression to partial correlation and multiple regression. The second purpose is to review advantages and disadvantages of selected alternative change models, focusing on path analysis and the problem of correlated denomi nators in change and path analyses. It is suggested that, when an identical denomi nator exists, it can be used as an independent control variable in standard least- squares regression equations constructed from the numerators. When, however, the denominators are highly correlated but not identical, as is found in most cross- sectional research and is virtually inescapable in longitudinal research, the use of residual analysis is suggested as a solution to the problem of correlated denomi nators.

Testing and clarifying a macro model of socioeconomic change and fertility.

This study examines human reproduction and its causal links to the socioeconomic conditions of society within the framework of the demographic transition. A theoretical fertility model for 100 countries -- 28 more developed countries (MDCs) and 72 less developed countries (LDCs) -- is subjected to path analysis. Findings for the 100 countries were mainly a function of the LDCs. Stronger support was found in the LDCs for the indirect fertility-inhibiting effect of economic development than for its fertility-promoting effect. This indirect effect was by far the most important cause of fertility decline, although there were smaller positive direct effects of economic development and government attitudes towards family planning. When education/literacy was controlled, economic development became a negative, but insignificant, influence on fertility, and the effect of government attitudes toward family planning exhibited no effect on fertility. These findings suggest strongly that improvement of education and literacy may be an answer to fertility control. Changes in health service and infant mortality seem natural results of the betterment of education and literacy. This study reconciles the 2 distinct views as to whether fertility increases or remains stable and high while mortality declines during early demographic transition. Both offer valid explanations for the transition in LDCs. Results for the LDCs are compared with those for the MDCs, and policy implications are discussed.

Teacher Education Graduates: Sex, Career Plans, and Preferences for Job Factors.

Differing prospective job rewards guide women into elementary or secondary teaching. Among prospective high school teachers there are no gender-linked job reward preferences.

Planning in Low‐Income Families: Influence of Locus of Control and Dyadic Consensus on Realistic Standard Setting

Dyadic consensus was found to be significantly and positively related to realistic stan dard setting in planning for wives and husbands in this low-income sample. Locus of control, the antecedent variable, was positively and significantly related to dyadic consensus for both husbands and wives. The third significant relationship for wives and husbands was between annual income and locus of control. Education was found to have a significant, positive relationship with the assessment of planning for husbands, but not for wives. This finding represents a point of departure between the prediction models for wives and husbands.

A causal model of effectiveness in organizations

The purpose of this research is to develop and test a causal model of organizational effectiveness in normative organizations. The variables included in the model were selected from Etzionis propositions relating correlates of compliance to effectiveness. Causal relations not suggested by Etzioni were added to the model. Path analysis techniques were applied to available data to test the postulated causal ordering and estimate path values. Considerable empirical support was found for the causal ordering.

Determinants of Family Size for Low-Income Families: Sex Role Orientation and Value of Children

The purpose of the study was to examine the determinants of family size in a sample of low- income married couples. The model used in the study views the relationship between sociodemographic variables, sex role orientation, value of children, and family size as a developmental sequence. The data for the study were gathered by interviewing 120 midwestern low-income married couples (n = 240). Path regression analysis was used to test the model for the husbands and wives separately. Since the husbands and wives in the study are couples, a one-fold nested-error design was used to assess the difference in path regression coefficients for the husbands and wives. The results show that a pooled coefficient (common) can be used for length of marriage and sex role orientation, length of marriage and family size, age of marriage and family size, and education and value of children. According to this study, separate coefficients for wives and husbands are needed for the influence of sex role on value of children.

Reliability of Value Orientation Scales

Data originating from an interregional project concerned with patterns of living of dis advantaged families were examined with two purposes: 1) to estimate internal reliability of value orientation scales as a basis for further analysis, and 2) to consider differences in the selection of scale items for single states or for all states included in the study. Scales for four value orientations (abstractness-concreteness, control-fatalism, equalitarianism authoritarianism, and integration-alienation) were developed for both an education and a job focus. Data consisting of five items for each of the eight scales were available from 12 states. To check reliability, a Guttmans lambda 2 was computed for each scale using 26 combinations of individual items. Combinations were ranked by magnitude of the lambda 2 value. Items consistently appearing in combinations of highest reliability were selected for further study. The reliability check yielded scales of three or four items for each value orientation except equalitarianism-authoritarianism:education. Reliabilities varied among the 12 states as well as between groups of rural and urban states. Differences between maximum and minimum reliabilities were generally reduced when samples were grouped. It is suggested that identifiable population parameters may be associated with varying reliability.

Moderator Effects on Attitude Scale Construction1

Data from a study on smoking and health are used to examine three methodological questions: (1) Does the method of scale construction influence the items in the resultant scales? (2) Do alternative subgroup delineations influence the formulation of scales? (3) If different scales are formed, what is the influence on measurement criteria, such as reliability, inter-item and item-total correlations, and statistical testing? Attitude scales were formed for subgroups based on smoking behavior, sex, and area of residence. Cluster analysis and theory were used to formulate the scales. The data provide empirical support that: (1) the method used to construct scales and (2) the moderators or subgroups do influence items in the scales, measurement criteria, and statistical testing.