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A General Factor in Improvement with Practice

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 January 2025

K. W. Heese*
Affiliation:
University of Stellenbosch Stellenbosch, South Africa

Abstract

Results of 10 trials on 6 tests for 50 subjects were analyzed, first, by applying the centroid method to actual improvement or practice scores and, second, by applying a formula developed by Woodrow for determining factor loadings for practice scores from the differences between factor loadings of initial and final scores. Contrary to expectation, the two methods yielded discrepant results, for the explanation of which a hypothesis is advanced. The operation of a general factor was not demonstrated. Tentative interpretations of the factors extracted by the centroid method are offered.

Type
Original Paper
Copyright
Copyright © 1942 The Psychometric Society

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References

* Kern, B. Wirkungeformen der Uebung. Münster in Westf. 1930.

Heese, K. W. (As translated from Afrikaans) A general factor in the practice-ability. University of Stellenbosch. 1937.

Woodrow, H. Factors in improvement with practice. J. Psych. 1939, 7, 55-70.

* A full report on the scaling technique is presented in another article which has been submitted for publication in Psychometrika.

* Holzinger, K. Statistical methods for students in education. New York: Ginn & Co., 1928, p. 169.

Woodrow, H. Scaling practice data. Psychometrika, 1937, 2, 245.

* Kelley, T. L. Statistical method. New York: Macmillan, 1923, p. 204.

* Woodrow, H. Factors in improvement with practice. J. Psychol., 1939, 7, 56.

* Burt, C. The factors of the mind. London, 1940, pp. 202-203.

* Harrell, W. A factor analysis of mechanical ability tests. Psychometrika, 1940, 5, 17-33.

* McCloy, C. H. The measurement of speed in motor performance. Psychometrika, 1940, 5, 173-79

Ryan, T. A. and Schehr, F. General practice in mirror tracing. Amer. J. Psych., 1940, 53. 593.