Observation-Oriented Modeling: Going Beyond "Is It All a Matter of Chance"?. (October 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Grice, James W.; Yepez, Maria; Wilson, Nicole L.; Shoda, Yuichi
• Is Part Of: Educational and psychological measurement. Volume 77:Number 5(2017:Oct.)
• Page Start: 855
• Page End: 867
• Publication Date: 2017-10
• Subjects: observation-oriented modeling -- integrated model -- inference to best explanation -- null hypothesis significance testing; Educational tests and measurements -- Periodicals; Psychological tests -- Periodicals; 151.205
• DOI: 10.1177/0013164416667985
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0013-1644

Abstract

An alternative to null hypothesis significance testing is presented and discussed. This approach, referred to as observation-oriented modeling, is centered on model building in an effort to explicate the structures and processes believed to generate a set of observations. In terms of analysis, this novel approach complements traditional methods based on means, variances, and covariances with methods of pattern detection and analysis. Using data from a previously published study by Shoda et al., the basic tenets and methods of observation-oriented modeling are demonstrated and compared with traditional methods, particularly with regard to null hypothesis significance testing.