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Correction for Attenuation With Biased Reliability Estimates and Correlated Errors in Populations and Samples

Carleton University, dwzimm{at}telus.net

Properties of the Spearman correction for attenuation were investigated using Monte Carlo methods, under conditions where correlations between error scores exist as a population parameter and also where correlated errors arise by chance in random sampling. Equations allowing for all possible dependence among true and error scores on two tests at both the sample and population levels were derived and compared to simulation results. The additional influence of biased estimates of reliability at both levels was examined. Research settings under which the correction for attenuation can be useful in data analysis and those under which it is inaccurate and extremely variable were distinguished.

Key Words: correction for attenuation • Spearman attenuation formula • error of measurement • reliability • true scores • error scores • observed scores • correlated errors • population • sample

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This version was published on December 1, 2007

Educational and Psychological Measurement, Vol. 67, No. 6, 920-939 (2007)
DOI: 10.1177/0013164406299132


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This Article Abstract Free Full Text (Free PDF) Free Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in Web of Science Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Citing Articles via Scopus Google Scholar Articles by Zimmerman, D. W. Search for Related Content Social Bookmarking                         What's this?