Introduction to the Taxometric Method: A Practical Guide

by Ruscio; John

• ISBN13: 9780805859768
• ISBN10: 0805859764
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Nonspecific Binding
• Copyright: 2006-04-11
• Publisher: Routledge

Summary

Introduction to the Taxometric Methodis a user-friendly, practical guide to taxometric research. Drawing from both classic and contemporary research, it provides a comprehensive introduction to the method. With helpful tools and guidance, the book is intended to teach those new to the method, as well as those already familiar with it, tips on how to conduct and evaluate taxometric investigations. The book covers a broad range of analytic techniques, describing their logic and implementation as well as what is known about their performance from systematic study. The book opens with the background material essential to understanding the research problems that the taxometric method addresses. The authors then explain the data requirements of taxometric analysis, the logic of each procedure, factors that can influence results and lead to misinterpretations, suggestions for choosing the best procedures, and methodological safeguards to prevent erroneous conclusions. Illustrative examples of each procedure and consistency test demonstrate how to perform analyses and interpret results using a variety of data sets. A checklist of conceptual and methodological issues that should be addressed in any investigation is included. The accompanying CD provides a variety of programs for performing taxometric analyses along with simulations and analyses of data sets. Introduction to the Taxometric Methodis ideal for researchers and students conducting or evaluating taxometric studies in the social and behavioral sciences, especially those in clinical and personality psychology, as well as those in the physical sciences, education, biology, and beyond. The book also serves as a text for courses on this method, or as a supplement in psychological assessment, statistics, or research methods courses.Familiarity with taxometrics is not assumed.

Author Biography

John Ruscio is an Associate Professor of Psychology at Elizabethtown College Nick Haslam is an Associate Professor at the University of Melbourne Ayelet Meron Ruscio is a postdoctoral fellow at Harvard Medical School

Table of Contents

Preface	xi
I. INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND
Introduction	3	(15)
Plan of the Book	4	(1)
Conceptual Background	5	(3)
Distinguishing Between Taxa and Dimensions	8	(1)
Some Possible Misunderstandings About Taxa and Dimensions	9	(8)
Conclusions	17	(1)
Why Latent Structure Matters	18	(17)
Classification	19	(3)
Diagnosis	22	(3)
Assessment	25	(2)
Research	27	(3)
Causal Explanations	30	(2)
Lay Conceptions of Important Constructs	32	(2)
Conclusions	34	(1)
The Classification Problem	35	(30)
The Classification Problem	36	(1)
Bimodality	37	(8)
Finite Mixture Modeling	45	(2)
Cluster Analysis	47	(2)
Latent Class Analysis	49	(1)
Dimcat	50	(1)
Searching for Multiple Boundaries	51	(3)
The Taxometric Method	54	(4)
Inferential Frameworks for the Taxometric Method	58	(3)
Conclusions	61	(4)
II. TAXOMETRIC METHOD
Data Requirements for Taxometrics	65	(22)
Sampling Considerations	66	(6)
Indicator Considerations	72	(7)
Evaluating the Data by Generating Empirical Sampling Distributions	79	(6)
Conclusions	85	(2)
Taxometric Procedures I: MAXSLOPE, MAMBAC, and L-Mode	87	(35)
Maxslope	89	(13)
Mambac	102	(14)
L-Mode	116	(5)
Conclusions	121	(1)
Taxometric Procedures II: MAXCOV and MAXEIG	122	(39)
The General Covariance Mixture Theorem	123	(1)
MAXCOV	123	(13)
Maxeig	136	(10)
Evaluating the Accuracy of the Base Rate Classification Technique	146	(2)
Blending Elements of the Traditional MAXCOV and MAXEIG Procedures	148	(10)
Conclusions	158	(3)
Consistency Tests	161	(45)
Performing Taxometric Procedures Multiple Times in Multiple Ways	162	(9)
Examining Latent Parameters and Classified Cases	171	(14)
Assessing Model Fit	185	(10)
A Monte Carlo Study of MAXCOV Consistency Tests	195	(8)
Conclusions	203	(3)
Interpretational Issues	206	(35)
Graphing and Presentation of Taxometric Results	207	(11)
The Influence of Indicator Skew	218	(5)
The Influences of Indicator Validity and Within-Group Correlations	223	(5)
Interpretational Safeguards	228	(11)
Conclusions	239	(2)
A Taxometric Checklist	241	(22)
Question 1: Is a Taxometric Analysis Scientifically Justified?	242	(2)
Question 2: Are the Data Appropriate for Taxometric Analysis?	244	(8)
Question 3: Has a Sufficient Variety of Procedures Been Implemented Properly?	252	(3)
Question 4: Have the Results Been Presented and Interpreted Appropriately?	255	(3)
Question 5: Are Implications of the Findings Clearly Articulated?	258	(1)
Conclusions	259	(4)
III. APPLICATIONS AND FUTURE DIRECTIONS
Applications of the Taxometric Method	263	(24)
The Latent Structure of Psychopathology	264	(9)
Normal Personality	273	(3)
Other Latent Variables	276	(1)
Overview of the Substantive Findings	277	(2)
Implementation of the Taxometric Method	279	(7)
Conclusions	286	(1)
The Future of Taxometrics	287	(25)
Constructs in Traditional Domains Requiring Further Study	288	(3)
New Domains for Taxometric Investigation	291	(6)
New Research Questions to Be Addressed Using Taxometrics	297	(7)
Methodological Issues for Further Study	304	(7)
Conclusions	311	(1)
Appendix A: Simulating Taxonic and Dimensional Comparison Data	312	(9)
Appendix B: Estimating Latent Parameters and Classifying Cases Using Maxcov	321	(2)
Appendix C: Estimating the Taxon Base Rate Using Maxeig	323	(3)
References	326	(11)
Author Index	337	(6)
Subject Index	343