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Appendix

 

 

 The Efficacy of Rational Emotive Therapy: A Quantitative Review of the Outcome Research.

Effect Size Estimation

Each comparison of RET to the baseline assessment, control, or treatment groups was expressed in terms of the Standardized Difference between Mean Scores (d; Cohen, 1977). Some researchers (e.g., Glass 1976, 1977; Smith & Glass, 1977; Smith et al, 1980) advocate using the comparison group standard deviation as the denominator for d. However, there are two reasons against using the comparison group standard deviation, first, the within-subjects standard deviation has approximately half the sampling error of the comparison group; second, the within-subjects standard deviation generally provides a more accurate estimate of the population s (Hunter et al, 1982). After d is calculated for each study, the effect sizes are averaged.

Where possible, effect sizes were obtained by directly calculating d from the means and standard deviations reported in the individual study. Otherwise d was calculated from t, f, r, or a probability value using procedures taken from Cohen (1977) or Hunter et al (1982). If the comparison was taken from a two-way ANOVA, the statistic was first converted to the eta statistic using an algorithm taken from Hasse (1983). This correlation coefficient was then converted to d using procedures outlined by Cohen (1977) and Hunter et al (1982).

When the exact probability level was given, this value was converted into a z score and then converted to a point-biserial correlation. A d was then estimated using the previously mentioned procedures outlined by Cohen (1977) and Hunter et al (1982). Unfortunately in some studies, an exact statistic was not available. An approximation procedure was used to estimate d. Where nonparametric statistics or multiple comparison procedures (e.g., Duncan's Multiple Range test or Newman-Keul's test) were used, the associated probability value (.05, .01, or .001) was converted first to a z score and then to a d statistic using the previously discussed procedures.