  Comparing the asymmetry coefficients and scintillation indices for observed
time variations of the intensity of the radiation of extragalactic sources and
the predictions of theoretical models is a good test of the nature of the
observed variations. Such comparisons can be used to determine whether
flux-density variations are due to scintillation in the interstellar medium or
are intrinsic to the source. In the former case, they can be used to estimate
the fraction of the total flux contributed by the compact component (core)
whose flux-density variations are brought about by inhomogeneities in the
interstellar plasma. Results for the radio sources PKS 0405-385, B0917+624, PKS
1257-336, and J1819+3845 demonstrate that the scintillating component in these
objects makes up from 50% to 100% of the total flux, and that the intrinsic
angular sizes of the sources at 5 GHz is 10-40 microarcseconds. The
characteristics of the medium giving rise to the scintillations are presented.
