Invariant tests for multivariate normality: a critical review

d -dimensional random vector X is some nondegenerate d-variate normal distribution, on the basis of i.i.d. copies X ₁, ..., X _x of X. Particular emphasis is given to progress that has been achieved during the last decade. Furthermore, we stress the typical diagnostic pitfall connected with purportedly ‘directed’ procedures, such as tests based on measures of multivariate skewness. Received: April 30, 2001; revised version: October 30, 2001     

Empirical-distribution-function goodness-of-fit tests for discrete models

We present a simple framework for studying empirical-distribution-function goodness-of-fit tests for discrete models. A key tool is a weak-convergence result for an estimated discrete empirical process, regarded as a random element in some suitable sequence space. Special emphasis is given to the problem of testing for a Poisson model and for the geometric distribution. Simulations show that parametric bootstrap versions of the tests maintain a nominal level of significance very closely even for small samples where reliance upon asymptotic critical values is doubtful.     

Is an e-mental health programme a viable way to reach affected others of disordered gamblers? A feasibility study focusing on access and retention

Although affected family members (AFMs) of disordered gamblers suffer from highly stressful living conditions and are in need of specialized help, access to and knowledge of professional support is limited. To improve this situation, an e-mental health programme called EfA with one information module and five consecutive training modules was developed. The study investigated (1) promotion of and referral to EfA, (2) duration of visits and conversion rate, and (3) participants’ characteristics and retention in EfA. In 9 months, 6357 visits were counted. Most visitors arrived at the website via direct access. Those using search terms most commonly used phrases that were used in promotional materials. Per month, 16.1 new potential participants registered. The final sample consisted of 126 participants, most of them female, with high daily Internet usage and low use of prior professional support or self-help. More than one-third finished all modules. This is the first time that data on an e-mental health programme for this clientele was collected in Germany. Findings imply the importance of promoting such a programme in order to reach a clientele that has not had prior help and also show that it is a viable way to reach AFMs.     

A Mead�CCooley Merger

Since Cooley was unable to fight back when Mead wrote his highly negative obituary, this is a defense of Cooley. Mead accused Cooley of solipsism, which I show to be a misreading. Mead also criticized Cooley for defining the self as self-feeling, as opposed to Mead??s reflexivity, two ideas which actually imply each other. Cooley scooped Mead by a good decade with the ideas of role-taking and inner speech, debts which Mead did not mention. I also show that Mead did not really explain the origin of the self, either phylogenetically (in the species) or ontogenetically (in the infant). I speculate about these two issues. Mead was a great genius, but, like everyone, he had his limits. And fairness requires that Cooley be rehabilitated. The ideas of the two thinkers are actually remarkably alike, so much so that a merger seems a reasonable idea.     

Tests of fit for exponentiality based on a characterization via the mean residual life function

We study two new omnibus goodness of fit tests for exponentiality, each based on a characterization of the exponential distribution via the mean residual life function. The limiting null distributions of the tests statistics are the same as the limiting null distributions of the Kolmogorov-Smirnov and Cramér-von Mises statistics proposed when testing the simple hypothesis that the distribution of the sample variables is uniform on the interval [0, 1]. Work supported by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft     

Zwischen Normativität und Komplexität

The spheres of Non-Governmental Organizations (NGO) related to development policy have changed significantly in past years. Therefore NGOs are confronted more and more with areas of tension and contradictions that they influence and challenge with their work. In this context, NGOs that are active in education for sustainable development face a special challenge. All of the contradictions and areas of tension appear condensed in this field and need to be examined and processed adequately from the point of education. The resulting areas of conflict and tension mark the central border area and problems of educational work related to development policy that far outreach the practice of NGOs.     

QUESTIONNAIRE VALIDATION BY CONFIRMATORY FACTOR ANALYSIS: AN IMPROVEMENT OVER MULTITRAIT-MULTIMETHOD MATRICES*

The Campbell and Fiske criteria for assessing the construct validity of multitrait-multimethod (MTMM) matrices has had a long history of use. While various statistical techniques, including ANOVA, have attempted to provide rigor to the MTMM matrix design, numerous problems still remain unsolved. Part of the problem in using an MTMM matrix is the assumption of measurement independence. This study attempts to illustrate the misleading inferences that often occur from MTMM analysis when method variance overlap is not accurately assessed. Three questionnaires were designed that were not method independent. Traditional procedures for assessing MTMM matrices suggested the three scaling formats used were not burdened with unusual method variance. A reanalysis of the MTMM matrix employing a Confirmatory Factor Analysis technique illustrated that method variance was a problem. Finally, the need for studies that concentrate on the nature of method variance, its causes and effects, is discussed.     

Goodness-of-Fit Tests for the Gamma Distribution Based on the Empirical Laplace Transform

We propose a class of goodness-of-fit tests for the gamma distribution that utilizes the empirical Laplace transform. The consistency of the tests as well as their asymptotic distribution under the null hypothesis are investigated. As the decay of the weight function tends to infinity, the test statistics approach limit values related to the first non zero component of Neyman's smooth test for the gamma law. The new tests are compared with other omnibus tests for the gamma distribution.