It is meaningful to create a comprehensive score to extract information from mass continuous data when they measure the same latent concept. Therefore, this study adopts the logic of psychometrics to conduct scales on continuous data under the Rasch models. This study also explores the effect of different data discretization methods on scale…

Metaheuristics are optimization algorithms that efficiently solve a variety of complex combinatorial problems. In psychological research, metaheuristics have been applied in short-scale construction and model specification search. In the present study, we propose a bee swarm optimization (BSO) algorithm to explore the structure underlying a…

In this paper, we develop a mixed stochastic approximation expectation-maximization (MSAEM) algorithm coupled with a Gibbs sampler to compute the marginalized maximum a posteriori estimate (MMAPE) of a confirmatory multidimensional four-parameter normal ogive (M4PNO) model. The proposed MSAEM algorithm not only has the computational advantages of…

In this paper, we develop a mixed stochastic approximation expectation-maximization (MSAEM) algorithm coupled with a Gibbs sampler to compute the marginalized maximum a posteriori estimate (MMAPE) of a confirmatory multidimensional four-parameter normal ogive (M4PNO) model. The proposed MSAEM algorithm not only has the computational advantages of…

This study employs advanced data mining techniques to investigate the DASS-42 questionnaire, a widely used psychological assessment tool. Administered to 680 students at Necmettin Erbakan University's Ahmet Kelesoglu Faculty of Education, the DASS-42 comprises three distinct subscales--depression, anxiety and stress--each consisting of 14 items.…

Identifying items with differential item functioning (DIF) in an assessment is a crucial step for achieving equitable measurement. One critical issue that has not been fully addressed with existing studies is how DIF items can be detected when data are multilevel. In the present study, we introduced a Lord's Wald X[superscript 2] test-based…

It is of critical importance to be aware of the historical discrimination embedded in the data and to consider a fairness measure to reduce bias throughout the predictive modeling pipeline. Given various notions of fairness defined in the literature, investigating the correlation and interaction among metrics is vital for addressing unfairness.…

Forced-choice (FC) measures have been widely used in many personality or attitude tests as an alternative to rating scales, which employ comparative rather than absolute judgments. Several response biases, such as social desirability, response styles, and acquiescence bias, can be reduced effectively. Another type of data linked with comparative…

The default risk, one of the main risk factors for bonds, should be measured and reflected in the bond yield. Particularly, in the case of financial companies that treat bonds as a major product, failure to properly identify and filter customers' workout status adversely affects returns. This study proposes a two-stage classification algorithm for…

Topic models are mathematical and statistical models used to analyze textual data. The objective of topic models is to gain information about the latent semantic space of a set of related textual data. The semantic space of a set of textual data contains the relationship between documents and words and how they are used. Topic models are becoming…

This systematic literature review investigates the fairness of machine learning algorithms in educational settings, focusing on recent studies and their proposed solutions to address biases. Applications analyzed include student dropout prediction, performance prediction, forum post classification, and recommender systems. We identify common…

The adaptive learning problem concerns how to create an individualized learning plan (also referred to as a learning policy) that chooses the most appropriate learning materials based on a learner's latent traits. In this article, we study an important yet less-addressed adaptive learning problem--one that assumes continuous latent traits.…

Presents a case study that calculates the reduction of the time needed for a Web page to be fully downloaded and delivered to the user. Topics include bandwidth; HTTP; data transfer; algorithms for compression and decompression of Web pages; and reducing the size of hypertext data. (Author/LRW)

Described is a Fortran computer program for an alternative algorithm for Thurstone's pair comparisons method. This algorithm provides an improved capacity for handling indeterminate proportions of one and zero as well as untruncated estimates of population scale values. (Author/JKS)

Proposes an approach to incorporate term similarity and inverse document frequency into a logical model of information retrieval. Highlights include document representation and matching; incorporating term similarity into the measure of distance; new algorithms for implementation; inverse document frequency; and logical versus classical models of…