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Bootstraps taxometrics: Solving the classification problem in psychopathology
Abstract
Classification in psychopathology is a problem in applied mathematics; it answers the empirical question "Is the latent structure of these phenotypic indicator correlations taxonic (categories) or nontaxonic (dimensions, factors)?" It is not a matter of convention or preference. Two taxometric procedures, MAMBAC and MAXCOV-HITMAX, provide independent tests of the taxonic conjecture and satisfactorily accurate estimates of the taxon base rate, the latent means, and the valid and false-positive rates achievable by various cuts. The method requires no gold standard criterion, applying crude fallible diagnostic "criteria" only in the phase of discovery to identify plausible candidate indicators. Confidence in the inference to taxonic structure and numerical accuracy of latent values is provided by multiple consistency tests, hence the term coherent cut kinetics for the general approach. Further revision of diagnostic systems should be based on taxometric analysis rather than on committee decisions based on clinical impressions and nontaxometric research.
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In the citing paper
“Satisfying these requirements, for the four indicators, mean full sample r = 0.37 and mean taxon and complement rs ≤ 0.06.”
From A Latent Structure Analysis of Cognitive Vulnerability to Depression in Adolescence (2019) · cites this paper as Meehl, 1995
In the citing paper
“This condition was satisfied in the current study (for all indicators, d ≥ 1.25)2.”
From A Latent Structure Analysis of Cognitive Vulnerability to Depression in Adolescence (2019) · cites this paper as Meehl, 1995
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Items 501–507 of 507
Persistently ambiguous: a taxometric investigation on two groups of suicidal ideation indicators
Carvalho, L. D. F., Machado, G. M., Pianowski, G., Filho, N. H., Baptista, M. N., & Grønnerød, C. (2026) · Frontiers in Psychology · doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2026.1729597
“All methods were based on the data comparison procedure (Meehl, 1995), which allows the empirical curves to be compared against prototypal curves of simulated (a) dimensional and (b) taxonic data that resemble the descriptive characteristics of the researcher’s data (Ruscio et al., 2010).”
Park, C. H. K., Lee, E., Cho, M., & Park, C. H. K. (2026) · Psychological Medicine · doi:10.1017/s0033291726104255
“…to previous research (De Beurs et al., 2017; O ’ Connor & Kirtley, 2018), we classified the variables available in our dataset into motivational or volitional phase symptoms, then selected the final indicator set based on established taxometric data prerequisites (Meehl, 1995; Ruscio et al., 2010).”
InfluentialQuantitative and Qualitative Methods for Life Course Research with Black Sexual Minority Men
Scheier, L. M., & Dangerfield, D. T. (2026) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-032-18233-3_11
Cardillo, R., Lievore, R., Toffalini, E., Crisci, G., & Mammarella, I. C. (2026) · Frontiers in Psychology · doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2026.1865249
“Traditionally, dimensional perspectives have been explored using taxometric analysis, testing the continuity of relationships across variables (Meehl, 1995).”
When metrics mislead: The conceptual costs
Dragović, M. (2026) · Laterality Asymmetries of Body Brain and Cognition · doi:10.1080/1357650x.2026.2726179
Establishing a clinical cutoff score for the Family Accommodation Scale—Anxiety ( FASA )
Lebowitz, E. R., Etkin, R. G., Pettit, J. W., & Silverman, W. K. (2026) · Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry · doi:10.1111/jcpp.70237
Metadata
- Authors
- Meehl, P. E.
- Affiliations
- University of Minnesota (US)
- Corresponding author
- Meehl, Paul E.
- Venue
- American Psychologist
- Published
- 1995-04
- Volume
- 50
- Issue
- 4
- Pages
- 266-275
- ISSN
- 0003-066X (ISSN-L)
- 1935-990X
- OpenAlex
- W2081843991
- Cited by
- 702
- References
- 0
- Citations by year
- 2026: 8 · 2025: 13 · 2024: 22 · 2023: 8 · 2022: 5 · 2021: 20 · 2020: 12 · 2019: 20 · 2018: 19 · 2017: 50 · 2016: 25 · 2015: 30 · 2014: 25 · 2013: 18 · 2012: 25
- FWCI
- 17.46
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- American Psychologist (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Decision Sciences › Management Science and Operations Research › Psychometric Methodologies and Testing
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Mental Health Research Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Anxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive Processes
- Keywords
- psychopathology classification, diagnostic criteria, cut-off values, latent structure
- MeSH terms
- Mental Disorders, Humans, Psychiatric Status Rating Scales
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