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Scale score measures are ubiquitous in the psychological literature and can be used as both dependent and independent variables in data analysis. Poor reliability of scale score measures leads to inflated standard errors and/or biased estimates, particularly in multivariate analysis. Reliability estimation is usually an integral step to assess data quality in the analysis of scale score data. Cronbach's [alpha] is a widely used indicator of reliability but, due to its rather strong assumptions, can be a poor estimator (L. J. Cronbach, 1951). For longitudinal data, an alternative approach is the simplex method; however, it too requires assumptions that may not hold in practice. One effective approach is an alternative estimator of reliability that relaxes the assumptions of both Cronbach's [alpha] and the simplex estimator and thus generalizes both estimators. Using data from a large-scale panel survey, the benefits of the statistical properties of this estimator are investigated, and its use is illustrated and compared with the more traditional estimators of reliability. (Contains 4 footnotes, 4 tables and 4 figures.)

Efforts to improve the public welfare and child welfare system sparked an unprecedented amount of federal legislation in the 1990s, including the Adoption and Safe Families Act of 1997 (ASFA), the Multiethnic Placement Act of 1994 and Interethnic Adoption Provisions of 1996 (MEPA-IEP), and welfare reform. Such reforms allow an unprecedented degree of flexibility, but little is known about their implementation. Researchers administered the Local Agency Survey to the first national probability sample of public child welfare agencies from 1999 to 2000. Findings indicate that ASFA has had the most effect on child welfare service delivery. Welfare reform has had less effect, and MEPA-IEP seems to have had little effect at all.

The federal government's move away from affirmative action combined with a growing national indifference to civil rights has resulted in major setbacks in the education of American Indians. Tribalism can be part of a solution with programs that reinforce a student's connection to parents, community, and tribe. (MLW)

Leydig cell tumors are rare sex cord-stromal tumors that account for less than 1% of all testicular tumors. Less than 10% of these tumors show metastatic malignant behavior. Herein we present a case of metastatic malignant Leydig cell tumor in an iliac lymph node diagnosed on fine-needle aspiration (FNA) in a 70-year-old man. The patient was referred from an outside institution with lymphadenopathy and had a past medical history of lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma/Waldenström's macroglobulinemia and past surgical history of orchiectomy. An iliac lymph node FNA was performed demonstrating large discohesive plasmacytoid cells with indistinct cell borders; abundant and finely granular cytoplasm; round, eccentric nuclei with evenly distributed chromatin; and prominent nucleoli. The tumor cells were positive for inhibin and negative for calretinin and keratin leading to the diagnosis of metastatic malignant Leydig cell tumor. Review of the patient's history and of previous pathologic material, careful evaluation of cytomorphologic features, and the judicious use of immunohistochemistry can allow an accurate diagnosis of metastatic Leydig cell tumor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Describes a computer program which will randomly select questions and change the arrangement of answers each time the program is run, providing realistic practice for standardized test-taking. A listing of the program is provided in AppleSoft BASIC, and modifications for the IBM-PC are included. (LP)