Chris posted “Walmart and the ASA” to the orgtheory blog. The piece is about the recent ASA Amicus Brief which supports the use of social framework analysis by social scientists who act as expert witnesses in, and whose conclusions can support class certification of, large class action discrimination litigation cases. This issue is generating a lot of debate, on scatterplot as well as orgtheory, the outcome of which might have important implications for the role of social scientists in legal processes, such as the current Walmart case [more on the case here 1, 2, 3] to be decided on this summer. Discussion on the blog has also incorporated other issues relating to the mission and role of ASA.
An Extended Model Comparison Framework for Covariance and Mean Structure Models, Accommodating Multiple Groups and Latent Mixtures
May 19, 2011Levy, R., & Hancock, G. (2011). An Extended Model Comparison Framework for Covariance and Mean Structure Models, Accommodating Multiple Groups and Latent Mixtures Sociological Methods & Research, 40 (2), 256-278 DOI: 10.1177/0049124111404819
Roy Levy, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA, roy.levy@asu.edu
Measurement Equivalence of Ordinal Items: A Comparison of Factor Analytic, Item Response Theory, and Latent Class Approaches
May 19, 2011Kankaras, M., Vermunt, J., & Moors, G. (2011). Measurement Equivalence of Ordinal Items: A Comparison of Factor Analytic, Item Response Theory, and Latent Class Approaches Sociological Methods & Research, 40 (2), 279-310 DOI: 10.1177/0049124111405301
Miloš Kankaraš, Tilburg University, Tilburg, The Netherlands, m.kankaras@uvt.nl
Multiple Auxiliary Variables in Nonresponse Adjustment
May 19, 2011Kreuter, F., & Olson, K. (2011). Multiple Auxiliary Variables in Nonresponse Adjustment Sociological Methods & Research, 40 (2), 311-332 DOI: 10.1177/0049124111400042
Frauke Kreuter, University of Maryland, College Park, USA and Institute for Employment Research, Nuremberg, Germany, fkreuter@survey.umd.edu
When Change Matters: An Analysis of Survey Interaction in Dependent Interviewing on the British Household Panel Study
May 19, 2011Uhrig, S., & Sala, E. (2011). When Change Matters: An Analysis of Survey Interaction in Dependent Interviewing on the British Household Panel Study Sociological Methods & Research, 40 (2), 333-366 DOI: 10.1177/0049124111404816
SC Noah Uhrig, University of Essex, United Kingdom, scnuhrig@essex.ac.uk
Group-based Trajectory Modeling Extended to Account for Nonrandom Participant Attrition
May 19, 2011Haviland, A., Jones, B., & Nagin, D. (2011). Group-based Trajectory Modeling Extended to Account for Nonrandom Participant Attrition Sociological Methods & Research, 40 (2), 367-390 DOI: 10.1177/0049124111400041
Daniel S. Nagin, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA, USA, dn03@andrew.cmu.edu
Assessing the Robustness of Crisp-set and Fuzzy-set QCA Results
May 19, 2011Skaaning, S. (2011). Assessing the Robustness of Crisp-set and Fuzzy-set QCA Results Sociological Methods & Research DOI: 10.1177/0049124111404818
Svend-Erik Skaaning, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark, Skaaning@ps.au.dk
New for 2011
January 13, 20112010 was quite an eventful year for SMR: Our cover got a new look, we published a special issue on sequence analysis, welcomed new members to the Editorial Board, and, most important, launched the SMR blog.
Thompson-Reuters released the 2009 Journal Citation Reports, and SMR had a very strong showing. For 2010, Thompson-Reuters introduced the 5-year impact factor, a major improvement over its previous measure which was overly sensitive to short term changes. Sociological Methods & Research ranked #4 among top sociology journals according to the new measurement, just behind ARS, AJS and ASR. In addition, SMR is #5 among social science methods journals.
2011 so far seems to be just as promising! Read the rest of this entry »
SMR 40.1 TOC
January 12, 2011Table of Contents for Sociological Methods & Research 40.1 (February 2011). With this issue, SMR begins its 40th year!
Sociological Methods & Research 40th Anniversary
January 12, 2011Winship, C. (2011). Sociological Methods & Research 40th Anniversary, Sociological Methods & Research, 40 (1), 3-5 DOI: 10.1177/0049124110392686. Read the rest of this entry »
Nonparametric Tests of Panel Conditioning and Attrition Bias in Panel Surveys
January 12, 2011Das, M., Toepoel, V., & van Soest, A. (2011). Nonparametric Tests of Panel Conditioning and Attrition Bias in Panel Surveys, Sociological Methods & Research, 40 (1), 32-56 DOI: 10.1177/0049124110390765, view abstract.
Two Algorithms for Relaxed Structural Balance Partitioning: Linking Theory, Models, and Data to Understand Social Network Phenomena
January 12, 2011Brusco, M., Doreian, P., Mrvar, A., & Steinley, D. (2010). Two Algorithms for Relaxed Structural Balance Partitioning: Linking Theory, Models, and Data to Understand Social Network Phenomena, Sociological Methods & Research, 40 (1), 57-87 DOI: 10.1177/0049124110384947, view abstract.
The Effects of Asking Filter Questions in Interleafed Versus Grouped Format
January 12, 2011Kreuter, F., McCulloch, S., Presser, S., & Tourangeau, R. (2011). The Effects of Asking Filter Questions in Interleafed Versus Grouped Format Sociological Methods & Research, 40 (1), 88-104 DOI: 10.1177/0049124110392342, view abstract.
Estimating Propensity Adjustments for Volunteer Web Surveys
January 12, 2011Valliant, R., & Dever, J. (2011). Estimating Propensity Adjustments for Volunteer Web Surveys Sociological Methods & Research, 40 (1), 105-137 DOI: 10.1177/0049124110392533, view abstract.
Multiple Sources of Nonobservation Error in Telephone Surveys: Coverage and Nonresponse
January 12, 2011Peytchev, A., Carley-Baxter, L., & Black, M. (2011). Multiple Sources of Nonobservation Error in Telephone Surveys: Coverage and Nonresponse Sociological Methods & Research, 40 (1), 138-168 DOI: 10.1177/0049124110392547, view abstract.
Sensitive Questions in Online Surveys: Experimental Results for the Randomized Response Technique (RRT) and the Unmatched Count Technique (UCT)
January 12, 2011Coutts, E., & Jann, B. (2011). Sensitive Questions in Online Surveys: Experimental Results for the Randomized Response Technique (RRT) and the Unmatched Count Technique (UCT) Sociological Methods & Research, 40 (1), 169-193 DOI: 10.1177/0049124110390768, view abstract.
SMR 39.2 TOC
November 12, 2010Model Identification and Computer Algebra
November 12, 2010Kenneth A. Bollen and Shawn Bauldry, Model Identification and Computer Algebra, Sociological Methods & Research 2010 39: 127-156.
Multiequation models that contain observed or latent variables are common in the social sciences. To determine whether unique parameter values exist for such models, one needs to assess model identification. Read the rest of this entry »
Assessing Group Differences in Estimated Baseline Survivor Functions From Cox Proportional Hazards Models
November 12, 2010Daniel A. Powers, Assessing Group Differences in Estimated Baseline Survivor Functions From Cox Proportional Hazards Models, Sociological Methods & Research 2010 39: 157-187.
The author discusses the general problem of evaluating differences in adjusted survivor functions and develops a heuristic approach to generate the expected events that would occur Read the rest of this entry »
Proportional Reduction of Prediction Error in Cross-Classified Random Effects Models
November 12, 2010Wen Luo and Oi-Man Kwok, Proportional Reduction of Prediction Error in Cross-Classified Random Effects Models, Sociological Methods & Research 2010 39: 188-205.
As an extension of hierarchical linear models (HLMs), cross-classified random effects models (CCREMs) are used for analyzing multilevel data that do not have strictly Read the rest of this entry »
An Alternative to the Bar-Lev, Bobovitch, and Boukai Randomized Response Model
November 12, 2010Oluseun Odumade and Sarjinder Singh, An Alternative to the Bar-Lev, Bobovitch, and Boukai Randomized Response Model, Sociological Methods & Research 2010 39: 206-221.
In this article, an alternative randomized response model is proposed. The proposed model is found to be more efficient than the randomized response model studied by Bar-Lev, Bobovitch, and Boukai (2004). Read the rest of this entry »
Latent Markov Model for Analyzing Temporal Configuration for Violence Profiles and Trajectories in a Sample of Batterers
November 12, 2010Edward H. Ip, Alison Snow Jones, D. Alex Heckert, Qiang Zhang and Edward D. Gondolf, Latent Markov Model for Analyzing Temporal Configuration for Violence Profiles and Trajectories in a Sample of Batterers, Sociological Methods & Research 2010 39: 222-255.
In this article, the authors demonstrate the utility of an extended latent Markov model for analyzing temporal configurations in the behaviors of a sample of 550 domestic violence batterers. Read the rest of this entry »
A Cautionary Note on the Use of Matching to Estimate Causal Effects: An Empirical Example Comparing Matching Estimates to an Experimental Benchmark
November 12, 2010Kevin Arceneaux, Alan S. Gerber, and Donald P. Green, A Cautionary Note on the Use of Matching to Estimate Causal Effects: An Empirical Example Comparing Matching Estimates to an Experimental Benchmark, Sociological Methods & Research 2010 39: 256-282.
In recent years, social scientists have increasingly turned to matching as a method for drawing causal inferences from observational data. Matching compares those who receive a treatment to those with similar Read the rest of this entry »
A Note on a Simple and Practical Randomized Response Framework for Eliciting Sensitive Dichotomous and Quantitative Information
November 12, 2010Carel F. W. Peeters, Gerty J. L. M. Lensvelt-Mulders and Karin Lasthuizen, A Note on a Simple and Practical Randomized Response Framework for Eliciting Sensitive Dichotomous and Quantitative Information, Sociological Methods & Research 2010 39: 283-296.
Many issues of interest to social scientists and policy makers are of a sensitive nature in the sense that they are intrusive, stigmatizing, or incriminating to the respondent. Read the rest of this entry »
Mixture Models for Ordinal Data
August 12, 2010 Richard Breen and Ruud Luijkx, Mixture Models for Ordinal DataSociological Methods & Research 2010 39: 3-24.
Cumulative probability models are widely used for the analysis of ordinal data. In this article the authors propose cumulative probability mixture models that allow the assumptions of the cumulative probability model Read the rest of this entry »
Analysis of a Two-Level Structural Equation Model With Missing Data
August 12, 2010Wai-Yin Poon and Hai-Bin Wang, Analysis of a Two-Level Structural Equation Model With Missing Data, Sociological Methods & Research 2010 39: 25-55.
Structural equation models are widely used to model relationships among latent unobservable constructs and observable variables. In some studies, the data set used for analysis is comprised of observations that are drawn Read the rest of this entry »
Cross-Survey Analysis to Estimate Low-Incidence Religious Groups
August 12, 2010Elizabeth Tighe, David Livert, Melissa Barnett, and Leonard Saxe, Cross-Survey Analysis to Estimate Low-Incidence Religious Groups, Sociological Methods & Research 2010 39: 56-82.
Fitting Log-Linear Models to Contingency Tables From Surveys With Complex Sampling Designs: An Investigation of the Clogg-Eliason Approach
August 12, 2010Direct and Indirect Effects for Neighborhood-Based Clustered and Longitudinal Data
June 17, 2010Tyler J. VanderWeele, Sociological Methods & Research 2010 38: 515-544.
Definitions of direct and indirect effects are given for settings in which individuals are clustered in groups or neighborhoods and in which treatments are administered at the group level. A particular intervention may Read the rest of this entry »
Multiple Informant Methodology: A Critical Review and Recommendations
June 17, 2010The value of multiple informant methodology for improving the validity in determining organizational properties has been increasinglyrecognized. However, the majority of empirical research Read the rest of this entry »
Decomposing the Change in the Wage Gap Between White and Black Men Over Time, 1980-2005: An Extension of the Blinder-Oaxaca Decomposition Method
June 17, 2010This article extends the Blinder—Oaxaca decomposition method to the decomposition of changes in the wage gap between white and black men over time. The previously implemented technique, in which the contributions of two decomposition components areestimated by Read the rest of this entry »
New Developments in Sequence Analysis
May 13, 2010Christian Brzinsky-Fay and Ulrich Kohler: New Developments in Sequence Analysis, Sociological Methods Research 2010 38: 359-364.
Sequence analysis was originally invented by biologists with the aim of comparing DNA sequences in order to find out to what extent two DNA strands are homologous Read the rest of this entry »
Optimal Matching Analysis and Life-Course Data: The Importance of Duration
May 13, 2010Brendan Halpin: Optimal Matching Analysis and Life-Course Data: The Importance of Duration, Sociological Methods Research 2010 38: 365-388.
The optimal matching (OM) algorithm is widely used for sequence analysis insociology. It has a natural interpretation for discrete-time sequences but isalso widely used for life-history data, which are Read the rest of this entry »
Setting Cost in Optimal Matching to Uncover Contemporaneous Socio-Temporal Patterns
May 13, 2010Laurent Lesnard: Setting Cost in Optimal Matching to Uncover Contemporaneous Socio-Temporal Patterns, Sociological Methods Research 2010 38: 389-419.
This article addresses the question of the effects of cost setting on the kind of temporal patterns optimal matching (OM) can uncover when applied to social science data. Read the rest of this entry »
New Life for Old Ideas: The ‘‘Second Wave’’ of Sequence Analysis Bringing the ‘‘Course’’ Back Into the Life Course
May 13, 2010Silke Aisenbrey and Anette E. Fasang: New Life for Old Ideas: The ‘‘Second Wave’’ of Sequence Analysis Bringing the ‘‘Course’’ Back Into the Life Course, Sociological Methods Research 2010 38: 420-462.
In this article the authors draw attention to the most recent and promising developments of sequence analysis. Read the rest of this entry »
Complexity of Categorical Time Series
May 13, 2010Cees H. Elzinga: Complexity of Categorical Time Series, Sociological Methods Research 2010 38: 463-481.
Categorical time series, covering comparable time spans, are often quite different in a number of aspects: the number of distinct states, the number of transitions, and the distribution of durations Read the rest of this entry »
My Brilliant Career: Characterizing the Early Labor Market Trajectories of British Women From Generation X
May 13, 2010Michael Anyadike-Danes and Duncan McVicar: My Brilliant Career: Characterizing the Early Labor Market Trajectories of British Women From Generation X Sociological Methods Research 2010 38: 482-512.
This article uses longitudinal data from the British Cohort Study to examinethe early labor market trajectories Read the rest of this entry »
Special Issue on Sequence Analysis
April 21, 2010The entire February issue of SMR, a special issue on Sequence Analysis, has been posted to the blog. Users can download a PDF of each article free of charge. The special issue has been edited by Christian Brzinsky-Fay and Ulrich Kohler of the Social Science Research Center, Berlin (Wissenschaftszentrum Berlin für Sozialforschung), Read the rest of this entry »
SMR Welcomes New Editorial Board Members
April 21, 2010SMR has added six new members to the Editorial Board for 2010.
These 6 scholars took on a lot of reviewing for SMR in recent years. Please join us in welcoming Read the rest of this entry »
SMR Blog Launch: Registration + Setup
April 21, 2010The SMR Blog officially launches on May 19th.
All SMR citations (with abstracts) since 2005 have been posted to the blog. Read the rest of this entry »
Welcome to the SMR blog!
April 21, 2010The SMR blog is an online forum for discussion of SMR content. Over the years, I have been frustrated that academic journals often do not provide an effective venue for scholarly discourse. Read the rest of this entry »
Comment on “EI extended model and the fear of ecological fallacy”, by Baodong Liu
April 21, 2010The following comment refers to: Sociological Methods & Research, Vol. 36, No. 1, 3-25 (2007), EI Extended Model and the Fear of Ecological Fallacy, by Baodong Liu