Pretesting effects in retrospective pretest-posttest designs

Article Abstract:

The present two studies evaluated communication skills training by using a pretest-posttest design, including retrospective pretest ratings, to control for response shift bias. A response shift is a change in a subject's internal standard for determining his or her level of functioning on a given dimension. The main purpose was to study the issue of pretesting effects in retrospective pretest-posttest designs. In Experiment 1, subjects were 37 hospital employees. Data indicated that the self-report pretest exerted a clear effect on subsequent self-report posttest and retrospective pretest ratings. The training was ineffective and, consequently, a response shift did not occur. In addition, experimental subjects could not remember and control subjects could remember their pretreatment ratings to a reasonable extent. In Experiment 2, subjects were 58 third-year dental students. Results showed that the training was effective. Moreover, a behavioral pretest that was administered prior to the self-report pretest prevented a response shift from occurring. This finding gives empirical support to the contention that subjects' lack of sufficient information about their level of functioning at pretest may be a causal determinant of the response shift. Data furthermore indicated that the retrospective pretest is rather robust for procedural differences in administering this instrument. (Reprinted by permission of the publisher.)

Analysis, Design and construction, Examinations, Educational tests, Psychological research, Experimenter effects in

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Integrating single-case amd group-comparison designs for evaluation research

Article Abstract:

This article describes and assesses the integration of single-case design and group-comparison methods to address limitations inherent in each methodology. First, the use of Hierarchical Linear Models (HLM) for analyzing aggregated single-case design data is described. Next, two examples of research that combines single-case and group-comparison methods are presented, with reanalyses of data from these studies conducted using HLM procedures. One reanalysis produces results contradicting those obtained by the original researchers. The advantages and disadvantages of using such integrated approaches are then discussed. (Reprinted by permission of the publisher.)

Methods, Social science research, Evaluation research (Social action programs)

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Retrospective evaluation (1971 - 1999)

Article Abstract:

A retrospective evaluation of Research Policy, which includes comments on most-cited papers, special issues, and revised subject and author indexes is discussed and described in the Dec 1999 issue, the last issue of the millenium.

Periodical Publishers, Periodicals, Professional Journals NEC, Publishing industry, Statistical Data Included, Management, Periodical publishing, Professional journals, Research Policy (Periodical)

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