Goals, course structure, physical and technical problems, the running of a simulation and evaluation of students are described for a game representing the political system of Argentina in a university comparative government course. (Author/KM)

Presents the preliminary findings of a study of two schools conducted to determine what can and should be done to reduce the schools' energy consumption without affecting their operation. The schools under study are a 40,033 square foot, non-air conditioned elementary school and a 270,085 square foot, partly air conditioned high school. The study…

Experiment designed to help meet the need for more controlled experiments on the effects of microteaching and to investigate different areas of teacher behavior over more than one time period. (Authors)

In a study of differences in interviewing skills of third-year medical students, one group was provided structured, evaluative feedback and the other traditional feedback on patient workups. Students provided structured feedback performed significantly better than those given traditional feedback. (MSE)

Presents the results of a study which sought to determine if prior learning of basic problem-solving steps, the practicing of problem-solving skills, and the receiving of feedback during play were important variables in the use of role-playing activities to teach high school students a specific problem-solving model. (Author/JL)

Comparisons were made of attitudes and behavior between single- and multiperson teams in business simulation games. Multiperson games gave rise to higher initial goals for business success, but lower individual feelings of responsibility for outcome. (CMV)

Research on automated scoring is extended by comparing alternative automated systems for scoring a computer simulation of physicians' patient management skills. A regression-based system is more highly correlated with experts' evaluations than a system that uses complex rules to map performances into score levels, but both approaches are feasible.…

The Rasch item fit approach for detecting multidimensionality in response data is compared with principal component analysis without rotation using simulated data. Results indicate that both approaches work in a variety of multidimensional data structures, but the Rasch item fit is better under some circumstances, as discussed. (SLD)

Describes the development of a method for the evaluation and comparison of interactive information retrieval systems, which are based on the concept of a simulated work-task situation and the involvement of real end users. Highlights include real and simulated information needs; relevance assessments; and the dynamic nature of information needs.…

A polychotomous nominal response model-based computerized adaptive test (CAT) was simulated using data from 1,093 University of Texas students. The ability estimation of this model and its overall performance were compared with those of a dichotomous three-parameter logistic model-based CAT. Advantages and drawbacks of nominal response CAT are…

Common approaches to examining the relationship between multitrait-multimethod (MTMM) data and variables outside the MTMM data are compared: averaging various means of each trait and estimating LISREL computer program models, and estimating only relationships between MTMM traits and the outside variables. Problems of correlational bias are…

This replication of a comparison of student perceptions and attitudes toward learning from case studies and from management simulations found that students perceive the simulation exercise to be superior to case study discussions for learning skills in the business policy course. Because these results contradict the findings of the original study,…

Modifications are proposed to the recently developed method of comparing one-step M-estimators of location corresponding to two independent groups that provides good control over the probability of Type I error even for unequal sample size, unequal variances, and different shaped distributions. Simulation results reveal cautions required. (SLD)

One-parameter and three-parameter item response theory (IRT) model estimates were compared with estimates obtained from two modified one-parameter models that incorporated a constant nonzero guessing parameter. Using small-sample simulation data (50, 100, and 200 simulated examinees), modified 1-parameter models were most effective in estimating…

Using simulated and real data, this study compares the performance of three methodologies for assessing unidimensionality: (1) DIMTEST; (2) the approach of Holland and Rosenbaum; and (3) nonlinear factor analysis. All three models correctly confirm unidimensionality, but they differ in their ability to detect the lack of unidimensionality.…