Multivariate Taxometric Procedures: Distinguishing Types from Continua / Edition 1

by Niels Waller, Paul Meehl

Overview

Can taxometric procedures be used to distinguish types (species, latent classes, taxa) from continua (dimensions, latent traits, factors); and, if so, how? Aimed at demystifying this process, Waller and Meehl unpack Meehl's work on the MAXCOV-HITMAX procedure to reveal the underlying rationale of MAXCOV in simple terms and show how this technique can be profitably used in a variety of disciplines by researchers in their taxonomic work.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780761902577
Publisher:	SAGE Publications
Publication date:	12/24/1997
Series:	Advanced Quantitative Techniques in the Social Sciences , #9
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	160
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.50(d)

Table of Contents

Introduction
Carving Nature at Its Joints
Defining Nature's Joints
Alternative Meanings of Taxon
Mathematical Foundations of Multivariate Taxometrics
MAXEIG-HITMAX
A Multivariate Generalization of MAXCOV
Factor Analytic Techniques for Distinguishing Types from Continua
L-Mode
Factor Analytic Techniques for Distinguishing Types from Continua
Q-Factor Analysis
Taxometrics in Scientific Methodology

Editorial Reviews

"It is an extraordinary intelligent yet accessible explication of taxometric procedures—their logic, analytical steps, and underlying philosophy of science—linking them to factor analytic methods traditionally used to analyze contrivances for underlying continuous differences."

Steve Gangestad

Explains co-author Paul E. Meehl's work on the MAXCOV-HITMAX procedures to reveal the underlying rationale of MAXCOV in simple terms and show how this technique can be used in a variety of disciplines by researchers in their taxonomic work. Begins with discussion of the misconceptions concerning the psychometric and philosophical status of taxonic constructs, and reviews several meanings of the term taxon and the philosophy of science that has guided the authors' work in this area. Describes MAXCOV-HITMAX and demonstrates how MAXCOV uses the General Covariance Mixture Theorem to test taxonic hypotheses. Introduces two new taxometric procedures for simultaneous analysis of multiple taxon indicators, provides guidelines for corroborating taxonic models, and describes the role of taxometrics in scientific methodology. For professionals in statistics, research methods, measurement, survey research, and social science and health fields that use statistics. Annotation c. by Book News, Inc., Portland, Or.

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