“Longitudinal Structural Equation Modeling with Mplus: A Latent State-Trait Perspective ”
By Christian Geiser
Published October 2020 by Guilford Press ($90 hardback; $45 paperback; e-book also available)
For researchers and students interested in modeling latent traits over time, this book provides an in-depth guide to theory and application of such models. The book provides instruction for creating longitudinal models for confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and structural equation models (SEM) within the latent state-trait (LST) theory framework, using Mplus software. Each chapter outlines theory, with strengths and limitations, along with examples and a demonstration in Mplus (including interpretation of output and screenshots). Other topics covered include measurement equivalence testing, missing data, model selection, and reporting results. Additional data and examples are available online in a companion website.
“The Oxford Handbook of Qualitative Research, 2nd Edition”
By Patricia Leavy
Published August 2020 by Oxford University Press ($230 hardback; e-book also available)
This new edition of the handbook serves as a guide to conducting and understanding qualitative research. Sections include historical and philosophical perspectives of qualitative research, narrative inquiry, field research, interview methods, text and social media analysis, analysis and interpretation of findings, and reporting results and written communication. Prominent researchers author the assortment of chapters, providing a multitude of voices and expertise. It may serve well as a teaching tool or introduction to the field, and it offers ample applications, scenarios, and examples to illustrate the chapter contents. New topics in this edition include team research, teaching qualitative research, and additional and updated references and examples.
“Generalizing the Regression Model: Statistics for Longitudinal and Contextual Analysis”
By Blair Wheaton and Marisa Young
Published November 2020 by SAGE Publishing ($100 paperback)
This upcoming book can serve as an introduction to general linear and non-linear models, structural equation models, hierarchical linear models, growth curve models, and event history. Each topic is presented with clear steps, outlining research questions and providing some background mathematical explanation. The emphasis, however, is placed on implementation; chapters include examples of published research that uses these models and discussions of methodology and problems that can be addressed, along with practical guides to articulating the interpretation. Analyses are demonstrated through examples in STATA and SAS programs.
“Applying the Rasch Model: Fundamental Measurement in the Human Sciences ”
By Trevor Bond, Zi Yan, and Moritz Heene
Published July 2020 by Routledge ($124 hardback; $51.96 paperback; e-book also available)
The book presents a clear and accessible approach to understanding and using Rasch models, for professionals, graduate students, and non-technical readers alike. Support is offered for practitioners from all areas of human sciences, with relevant examples to various disciplines provided throughout. Fundamentals of measurement research are discussed in detail, including scale development, levels of measurement, and the nature of observations. The properties and the principles of Rasch models are discussed, along with advice to conduct analyses, interpret results, and critically evaluate measurement research. The book provides examples and exercises using R, with code available for download for interested readers.
Guidelines for the “What’s New?” column
Have you published a new psychological test or testing product; a book on advanced statistics, measurement, or evaluation; an interesting website or other internet group related to measurement, statistics, or evaluation; or a computer program useful to Div. 5 membership? If so, we would like to include an announcement of about 100 words in the What’s New column. We would also appreciate any suggestions, or feedback, on how this section of the newsletter can better serve the Div. 5 membership. Please take the opportunity to share information with colleagues through your contributions to this column. Please send announcements and/or product literature to The Score associate editor, Joanna Solomon .