Contradictions Can Never a Paradox Resolve
- 1 December 1989
- journal article
- research article
- Published by SAGE Publications in Applied Psychological Measurement
- Vol. 13 (4) , 426-428
- https://doi.org/10.1177/014662168901300408
Abstract
The fact that difference scores tend to be less reli able than the original measurements from which they are calculated should not be a matter of concern in testing the significance of treatment-induced change. The reliabilities of the original measurements are im portant because unreliability attenuates correlation, and substantial correlation between prescores and post- scores is required for difference scores to be of value in controlling for individual differences. Reliability notwithstanding, difference scores provide superior control over true baseline differences in quasi-experi mental research, whereas the analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) is generally preferable for baseline control in randomized experimental designs. Index terms: analysis of covariance, baseline correction, difference scores, measurement of change, reliability.Keywords
This publication has 4 references indexed in Scilit:
- Some Comments on the Relation Between Reliability and Statistical PowerApplied Psychological Measurement, 1989
- Nonrandom assignment and the analysis of covariance.Psychological Bulletin, 1977
- Unreliability of difference scores: A paradox for measurement of change.Psychological Bulletin, 1975
- A paradox in the interpretation of group comparisons.Psychological Bulletin, 1967