We review common situations in Bayesian latent variable models where the prior distribution that a researcher specifies differs from the prior distribution used during estimation. These situations can arise from the positive definite requirement on correlation matrices, from sign indeterminacy of factor loadings, and from order constraints on…

Sensitivity analyses encompass a broad set of post-analytic techniques that are characterized as measuring the potential impact of any factor that has an effect on some output variables of a model. This research focuses on the utility of the simulated annealing algorithm to automatically identify path configurations and parameter values of omitted…

Popular item response theory (IRT) models are considered complex, mainly due to the inclusion of a random factor variable (latent variable). The random factor variable represents the incidental parameter problem since the number of parameters increases when including data of new persons. Therefore, IRT models require a specific estimation method…

Since 2018, institutions of higher education have been aware of the "enrollment cliff" which refers to expected declines in future enrollment. This paper attempts to describe how prepared institutions in Ohio are for this future by looking at trends leading up to the anticipated decline. Using IPEDS data from 2012-2022, we analyze trends…

The large scale expansion of online courses has led to the crisis of course quality issues. In this study, we first established an evaluation index system for online courses using factor analysis, encompassing three key constructs: course resource construction, course implementation, and teaching effectiveness. Subsequently, we employed factor…

In this study, the accuracy of the artificial neural network (ANN) was assessed considering the uncertainties associated with the randomness of the data and the lack of learning. The Monte-Carlo algorithm was applied to simulate the randomness of the input variables and evaluate the output distribution. It has been shown that under certain…

Given the rapid adoption of machine learning methods by education researchers, and the growing acknowledgment of their inherent risks, there is an urgent need for tailored methodological guidance on how to improve and evaluate the validity of inferences drawn from these methods. Drawing on an integrative literature review and extending a…

Literature screening is the process of identifying all relevant records from a pool of candidate paper records in systematic review, meta-analysis, and other research synthesis tasks. This process is time consuming, expensive, and prone to human error. Screening prioritization methods attempt to help reviewers identify most relevant records while…

Predictive student models are increasingly used in learning environments due to their ability to enhance educational outcomes and support stakeholders in making informed decisions. However, predictive models can be biased and produce unfair outcomes, leading to potential discrimination against certain individuals and harmful long-term…

Predicting learner performance with precision is critical within educational systems, offering a basis for tailored interventions and instruction. The advent of big data analytics presents an opportunity to employ Machine Learning (ML) techniques to this end. Real-world data availability is often hampered by privacy concerns, prompting a shift…

Reweighting a distribution to minimize a distance to a target distribution is a powerful and flexible strategy for estimating a wide range of causal effects, but can be challenging in practice because optimal weights typically depend on knowledge of the underlying data generating process. In this paper, we focus on design-based weights, which do…

In the current higher education landscape, universities are facing expanding requirements beyond teaching and research. Evaluation methods must evolve accordingly to prevent universities from facing development dilemmas. Current mainstream evaluation methods primarily emphasize the research domain, often failing to holistically capture a…

Cognitive Diagnosis Models (CDMs) are a special family of discrete latent variable models that are widely used in educational and psychological measurement. A key component of CDMs is the Q-matrix characterizing the dependence structure between the items and the latent attributes. Additionally, researchers also assume in many applications certain…

We have maintained the customer grade system that is being implemented to customers with excellent performance through customer segmentation for years. Currently, financial institutions that operate the customer grade system provide similar services based on the score calculation criteria, but the score calculation criteria vary from the financial…

In recent years, China has accelerated the process of internationalization and made more and more achievements in transnational communication and cooperation. English learning is very important for contemporary college students. And English reading is an important means to acquire English language knowledge, understand external information and…