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Using ordering theory, a boolean algebraic measurement model in which item response patterns are viewed as atoms in a boolean algebra with as many generators as there are items being considered, a hierarchy-generative procedure is developed. This procedure relates to the determination of prerequisite relationships between pairs of items. An experiment in which seven Piagetian tasks were administered, and the task response patterns were subjected to an ordering-theoretic analysis, is presented. It is concluded that ordering theory should be a useful tool for the educator or social scientist, and for developmental psychology and Piagetian theory and research, ordering theory should be helpful in providing information on hierarchial structures amidst behaviors. (DB)

The inadequacies in present measurement models are indicated and a description is given of how tree theory, a theory-generative model, overcomes these inadequacies. Among the weaknesses cited in many measurement models are their untested assumptions of linear order and unidimensionality and their inability to generate non-associational relationships for a given set of empirical events. Tree theory is a measurement model whose intent is the generation and testing of specific logical relationships among empirical events. Tree theory has as its basic mathematical framework free Boolean algebra and employs the multinomial distribution as the basis for its statistical tests. The method of tree theory is described in terms of its Boolean algebraic and statistical procedures. Applications are then cited for the fields of evaluation and developmental psychology. (Author/LH)

Presented is a measurement method derived from ordering theory in which hierarchies among items are determined by processing item response patterns according to rules of symbolic logic. The method, based upon a boolean algebraic framework, is said to provide an alternative to classical measurement methods which assume that the trait to be measured is linearly ordered and can be measured with a simple additive model. An example of data analysis by the ordering theory method is provided for a rating scale of guilt in socially embarrassing situations. It is suggested that learning hierarchies, item hierarchies, behavioral sequences, and cognitive stage theories could all be more carefully studied by the proposed method. (Author/GW)

Presented is a method, derived from ordering theory, for the multidimensional scaling of dichotomous item data. The method is said to be related to the methodological multivariate extension of I. Guttman's scalogram analysis developed by C. Coombs and his students. An example is used to compare the data analytic results of the ordering theoretic method and the results of Coombs' method using the conjunctive model. Some relationships of the ordering theoretic method to conventional psychometric data analytic procedures are discussed. (Author/GW)

This work assesses the characteristics of current Air Force accessions. On the basis of draft lottery numbers, four groups of basic trainees enlisting in early 1970 were defined in terms of their draft vulnerability at the time of enlistment. These groups, designated as high, moderate, low, and no threat, were compared on a number of dimensions. Compared to the other groups, the test performance of the low-threat group was somewhat lower. In addition, there were significant differences between the no-threat group, the other groups, and the total group. In various comparisons on test performance, there were marked differences between racial and enlistment region subgroups, but only moderate differences within draft-threat groups. The data suggest that under zero-draft conditions, manpower resources at the higher aptitude levels may be more limited than is presently the case. (Author/TL)

Male and female enlistee samples were compared for total groups and by enlistment region in terms of their performance on the Airman Qualifying Examination (AQE) and the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB). Women in the Air Force (WAF) test-retest performance was evaluated on the Armed Forces Women's Selection Test (AFWST) which is used throughout the Department of Defense. WAF performance on the AFWST was compared with their performance on the Armed Forces Qualification Test (AFQT), the instument currently used to establish the mental ability level of males entering the military services. It was found that mean aptitude indexes have increased over time for both male and female enlistees on the AQE and the ASVAB. A positive relationship was demonstrated between level of education and aptitude index. Regional aptitude patterns for WAF did not conform to those traditionally found for male enlistees. A significant difference was found in WAF performance in a test-retest situation for both the AQE and the AFWST. WAF performance on the AFQT was somewhat lower than that of male enlistees, with the difference attributed primarily to the lower achievement by the WAF on the Mechanical Comprehension subtest. (Author)

The study characterizes the 1971 enlistees by relating their education, race, age, and test performance to their perceived draft vulnerability as high, moderate, or low draft pressure, or not eligible for the draft, and comparing them to the 1970 accessions. It was found that the 1971 accessions demonstrated less aptitude and were less well-educated than the 1970 group, an appreciable rise being noted in the number of accessions having 11 years or fewer of education. The data suggest that, under present incentive enlistment programs, zero-draft manpower resources at the higher aptitude levels may be more limited. (AG)

Validities of the four aptitude indexes of the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB), Form 1, and the Airman Qualifying Examination-66 (AQE), were determined for final grades in 46 airman training courses. Comparisons were made between AQE and ASVAB in terms of their ability to predict technical school success. The data demonstrate the ASVAB is an effective instrument for use in the military high school testing program and may be used satisfactorily, as is AQE, to assign enlistees to technical training. Three of the four selector aptitude indexes of the ASVAB (General, Administrative, and Electronics) evidenced their appropriateness by having higher validities for their appropriate courses than any of the other ASVAB aptitude indexes. This sort of specific validity did not obtain for the selector index of the Mechanical cluster. However, 15 of the 16 validities obtained for the selector index in the Mechanical area were at a significant (.01), useful and acceptable level. (Author)

The monograph is the second in a series entitled "Studies in Behavior and Rehabilitation" and is scientifically dependent upon the first article. The authors report observations of two case studies and list three major purposes of the analysis: (1) to familiarize individuals interested in rehabilitation with the work Behavior Observation Scheme and types of analyses possible through its application; (2) to provide insight into the relationship between work, the work setting, and the modification of client behavior; and (3) to suggest the groundwork for a more relevant method of classifying an individual's disability. The authors stressed the necessity of classifying the disability, the influence of work, work setting, and rehabilitation in changing client behavior, and directions for future research. (Author/MC)

In Piaget's developmental psychology the fourth and highest stage of human cognitive development is that of formal operations. The research on formal thought instruments is outlined. This study was designed to construct and validate paper-and-pencil instruments which could be used to select students capable of abstract conceptualization, hypothetico-deductive thought, and combinational reasoning. Three tests in different content areas were developed using item specifications found in the Piagetian literature on formal operations. Items were six-choice logic items with abstruse content. These tests, four Piagetian formal thought tasks, and a measure of verbal intelligence were administered to a sample of above-average teenagers. The formal operational reasoning tests were demonstrated to have substantial content validity, modest concurrent validity, and limited construct validity. Six item structures were found to have uniformly high first principal component factor loadings, validity indices, and reliability indices. The need for further research in this area is pointed out. (DG)

The chemists' information needs are for current awareness, selective dissemination, and retrospective search services, of research, development, engineering, production, and marketing information located internally or externally, and contained in journals, patents, theses, reports, data files, information services, and from people. This paper is an overview of approaches to the processing of chemical information including new techniques for handling structures, concepts and data. These methods are available, many are inexpensive, and they are widely used in industry and the government. They can also be helpful to chemistry teachers and students. (NH)