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Estimation of Method and Trait Variance in Ratings of Conduct Disorder
Author(s) -
Fergusson D. M.,
Horwood L. J.
Publication year - 1989
Publication title -
journal of child psychology and psychiatry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.652
H-Index - 211
eISSN - 1469-7610
pISSN - 0021-9630
DOI - 10.1111/j.1469-7610.1989.tb00252.x
Subject(s) - variance (accounting) , psychology , trait , structural equation modeling , statistics , estimation , variance components , cohort , developmental psychology , econometrics , mathematics , accounting , management , computer science , economics , business , programming language
A structural equation model designed to estimate the contributions of trait, method and error variance to maternal and leather and child ratings of conduct disorder is presented. This model was fitted to data collected on a birth cohort of New Zealand children studied over a 3 yr period. On the basis of the filled model it was estimated that between 28% and 40% of the variance in maternal and teacher ratings was ascribable to variations in the child's generalized behavioural tendencies and the remaining variance to either method‐specific factors or random errors of measurement. The implications of these results are discussed.