The use of structural equation modelling in testing a range of theories of learning and cognition involving the concept of a hierarchy of variables of increasing complexity is discussed. To illustrate this approach, Jöreskog's LISREL method is applied to data for Bloom's taxonomy to test the theoretical assumption of hierarchical organization.
References
1.
AusubelD. P., and RobinsonF. G.School Learning: An Introduction to Educational Psychology.New York: Holt, Rinehart & Winston, 1969.
2.
BentlerP. M., and BonettD. G.Significance tests and goodness of fit in the analysis of covariance structures.Psychological Bulletin, 1980, 88, 588–606.
3.
BerganJ. R.The structural analysis of behavior: An alternative to the learning-hierarchy model.Review of Educational Research, 1980, 50, 625–46.
4.
BiggsJ. B., and CollisK. F.Evaluating the Quality of Learning: The SOLO Taxonomy.New York: Academic Press, 1981.
5.
BloomB. S., EnglehartM. D., FurstE. J., HillW. H., and KrathwohlD. R.Taxonomy of Educational Objectives, Handbook 1: Cognitive Domain.New York: McKay, 1956.
6.
BurtC.The Factors of the Mind.London: University of London Press, 1940.
7.
BurtR. S.Confirmatory factor-analytic structures and the theory construction process.Sociological Methods and Research, 1973, 2, 131–90.
8.
BurtR. S.Interpretational confounding of unobserved variables in structural equation models.Sociological Methods and Research, 1976, 5, 3–52.
9.
GagnéR. M.The Conditions of Learning.London: Holt, Rinehart & Winston, 1965.
10.
GuttmanL.A new approach to factor analysis: The radex. In LazarsfeldP. (Ed.), Mathematical Thinking in the Social Sciences.Glencoe, Ill.: The Free Press, 1954.
11.
HillP. W.Process hierarchy theory: A holistic approach to theory building in education. Unpublished Ph.D. thesis, Murdoch University, 1982.
12.
HillP. W., and McGawB.Testing the simplex assumption underlying Bloom's taxonomy.American Educational Research Journal, 1981, 18, 93–101.
13.
HoelterJ. W.The analysis of covariance structures: Goodness-of-fit indices.Sociological Methods and Research, 1983, 11, 325–44.
14.
JöreskogK. G.A general method for analysis of covariance structures.Biometrika, 1970, 57, 239–51. (a)
15.
JöreskogK. G.Estimation and testing of simplex models.British Journal of Mathematical and Statistical Psychology, 1970, 23, 121–45. (b)
16.
JöreskogK. G.A general method for estimating a linear structural equation system. In GoldbergerA. S., and DuncanO. D. (Eds), Structural Equation Models in the Social Sciences.New York: Seminar Press, 1973.
17.
JöreskogK. G., and SörbomD.Statistical models and methods for analysis of longitudinal data. In AignerD. J., and GoldbergerA. S. (Eds), Latent Variables in Socioeconomic Models.Amsterdam: North Holland Publishing Co., 1977.
18.
JöreskogK. G., and SörbomD.LISREL IV — Analysis of Linear Structural Relationships by the Method of Maximum Likelihood.Chicago: National Educational Resources, 1978.
19.
KeeslingJ. W.Empirical validation of criterion-referenced measures. In AlkinM. C. (Ed.), Problems in Criterion-referenced Measurement. (CSE Monograph Series in Evaluation). Los Angeles: University of California, Center for the Study of Evaluation, 1974.
20.
KerlingerF. N.The influence of research in education practice.Educational Researcher, 1977, 6(8), 5–11.
21.
KhattabA., and HocevarD.Significance testing in confirmatory factor analytic models. Paper presented at the 1982 conference of the American Educational Research Association.
22.
KoestlerA.The Ghost in the Machine.London: Pan Books, 1967.
23.
KroppR. P., and StokerH. W.The Construction and Validation of Tests of the Cognitive Processes as Described in the Taxonomy of Educational Objectives.Tallahassie: Florida State University, Institute of Human Learning and Department of Educational Research and Testing, 1966. (ERIC Document Reproduction Service No. ED 010 044)
24.
MaytonD. M.Comparison of simplex analysis procedures and factor analytic strategies on the simplex and step simplex hierarchical models. Unpublished Ph.D. Dissertation, University of California, Santa Barbara, 1977.
MunckI. M. E.Model Building in Comparative Education.Stockholm: Almqvist & Wiksell, 1979.
27.
RyleG.The Concept of Mind.London: Hutchinson, 1949.
28.
SimonH. A.The architecture of complexity.General Systems, 1962, 10, 63–76.
29.
TatsuokaM. M.Mathematical models in the behavioral and social sciences. In WhitlaD. K. (Ed.), Handbook of Measurement and Assessment in Behavioral Sciences.Blading, Mass.: Addison-Wesley, 1968.
30.
TuckerL. R., and LewisC.A reliability coefficient for maximum likelihood factor analysis. In TuckerL. R., LoveW. D., and LewisC. (Eds), Topics in Factor Analysis.Champaign, Ill.: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 1970.
31.
VernonP. E.The Structure of Human Abilities.New York: Wiley, 1950.
32.
von BertalanffyL.General Systems Theory.London: Allen Lane, 1971.
33.
WertsC. E., LinnR. L., and JöreskogK. G.A simplex model for analyzing academic growth.Educational and Psychological Measurement, 1977, 37, 745–56
34.
WertsC. E., LinnR. L., and JöreskogK. G.Reliability of college grades from longitudinal data.Educational and Psychological Measurement, 1978, 38, 89–95.
