The DOI matches its Crossref record; 170 of the 170 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.
A conceptual and psychometric framework for distinguishing categories and dimensions
Abstract
An important, sometimes controversial feature of all psychological phenomena is whether they are categorical or dimensional. A conceptual and psychometric framework is described for distinguishing whether the latent structure behind manifest categories (e.g., psychiatric diagnoses, attitude groups, or stages of development) is category-like or dimension-like. Being dimension-like requires (a) within-category heterogeneity and (b) between-category quantitative differences. Being category-like requires (a) within-category homogeneity and (b) between-category qualitative differences. The relation between this classification and abrupt versus smooth differences is discussed. Hybrid structures are possible. Being category-like is itself a matter of degree; the authors offer a formalized framework to determine this degree. Empirical applications to personality disorders, attitudes toward capital punishment, and stages of cognitive development illustrate the approach.
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“Dimensional approaches generally aim for within-category heterogeneity and between-category quantitative differences (De Boeck et al., 2005), goals that can also be challenging for SA/A (Heyne et al., 2019).”
From Reconciling Contemporary Approaches to School Attendance and School Absenteeism: Toward Promotion and Nimble Response, Global Policy Review and Implementation, and Future Adaptability (Part 1) (2019) · cites this paper as De Boeck et al., 2005
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“Categorical approaches broadly aim for within-category homogeneity and between-category qualitative differences (De Boeck et al., 2005), goals that have been somewhat elusive for SA/A (DiBartolo and Braun, 2017).”
From Reconciling Contemporary Approaches to School Attendance and School Absenteeism: Toward Promotion and Nimble Response, Global Policy Review and Implementation, and Future Adaptability (Part 1) (2019) · cites this paper as De Boeck et al., 2005
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Scoring and Scaling Items from Innovative Domains
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Psychological Factors Conditioning Pro-Environmental BehaviorAbstractPreprint
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Metadata
- Authors
- De Boeck, P., Wilson, M., & Acton, G. S.
- ORCID
- Wilson, Mark
- Venue
- Psychological Review
- Published
- 2005
- Volume
- 112
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 129-158
- ISSN
- 0033-295X (ISSN-L)
- 1939-1471
- OpenAlex
- W2149002740
- Cited by
- 131
- References
- 155
- Citations by year
- 2025: 6 · 2024: 2 · 2023: 5 · 2022: 4 · 2021: 2 · 2020: 6 · 2019: 2 · 2018: 3 · 2017: 3 · 2016: 4 · 2015: 7 · 2014: 4 · 2013: 11 · 2012: 6
- FWCI
- 15.27
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Psychological Review (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- National Institutes of Health (1f32da014739-01)
- National Institute on Drug Abuse (P50DA009253, F32-DA14739)
- 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 › Categorization, perception, and language
- Keywords
- latent structure, hybrid structures, psychiatric diagnosis, personality disorders, attitudes toward capital punishment, cognitive development stages
- MeSH terms
- Capital Punishment, Cognition, Humans, Models, Psychological, Psychology, Psychometrics
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