This theme issue covers "High School Programming" and approaches to meeting the needs of gifted high school students in Texas. The first article is "Thematic Interdisciplinary Curricula for Secondary Gifted Students in English and Social Studies" (Joel E. McIntosh and April W. Meacham). This approach is contrasted with the…

Hierarchical Bayes procedures were compared for estimating item and ability parameters in item response theory. Simulated data sets from the two-parameter logistic model were analyzed using three different hierarchical Bayes procedures: (1) the joint Bayesian with known hyperparameters (JB1); (2) the joint Bayesian with information hyperpriors…

The differences between multiple-choice, simulated, and concurrent tests of software-skills proficiency are discussed. For three basic human-resource functions, the advantages of concurrent tests (i.e., those that use the actual application software) include true performance-based assessment, unconstrained response alternatives, and increased job…

Hypothesis generation has been proven to be a crucial phase in the clinical inquiry. The current instruments for measuring clinical problem-solving skills, however, are unable to differentially assess the hypothesis generating ability. For assessing this particular capability a new test is described. It is based upon exposing the examinee to an…

The present study investigated whether infants of mothers who were depressed postpartum would behave like infants of non-depressed mothers who simulated depression. A total of 24 mothers and their 3-month-old infants were videotaped during face-to-face interactions. All mothers were given the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and the State-Trait…

A latent trait model is described that is appropriate for use with tests that measure more than one dimension, and its application to both real and simulated test data is demonstrated. Procedures for estimating the parameters of the model are presented. The research objectives are to determine whether the two-parameter logistic model more…

This environmental teaching guide is designed to help Illinois teachers promote wise land-use planning at the secondary level. Program objectives, background information, activities and games for use in and outside of the classroom, a simulated problem-solving exercise, resource lists, and a test with answers are included. (JW)

This paper reports the current findings in literature on the impact of instructional technologies on teaching and learning environments pertaining higher education institutions. This study investigates the instructional design strategies in terms of (1) the scope of change in design strategies as a result of current school reform in the United…

In order to determine the effectiveness of multidimensional scaling (MDS) in recovering the dimensionality of a set of dichotomously-scored items, data were simulated in one, two, and three dimensions for a variety of correlations with the underlying latent trait. Similarity matrices were constructed from these data using three margin-sensitive…

In response to Congressional direction, a quantitative, analytical review (a meta-analysis) was completed of interactive videodisc instruction applied in Defense training and in the related settings of industrial training and higher education. Over all instructional settings and applications, interactive videodisc instruction was found to improve…

Perceptions of supervisor bias can profoundly affect employee morale, yet the perceiver usually infers bias from limited information. In this study, 95 male and female undergraduate students participated in groups of 2 to 5 for course credit, playing the role of middle-level managers working in the personnel department of a fictitious company…

Interpersonal simulations may be used as a module in cultural awareness programs to provide realistic environments in which students, supervisors, and managers may practice communication skills that are effective in multicultural environments. To conduct and implement a cross-cultural simulation, facilitators should proceed through four stages:…

This document contains two sets of lessons designed to teach elementary and secondary students about apartheid in South Africa. The goals of the lessons are: (1) to create a greater awareness of recent events related to the practice of apartheid by the South African government; (2) to provide a greater understanding of the effects of apartheid on…

The scientific and technical publications summarized in this report describe research on intelligent instructional systems sponsored by the Personnel and Training Research Programs, Psychological Sciences Division, of the Office of Naval Research. Abstracts of the following papers are presented: (1) "Understanding Reflective Problem…

Papers read by three German educationalists at a workshop on "Education between Quality and Equity" are included in this document. The first, by Han Leo Reimann, is entitled "Simulated Reality: The Instructional Objectives within the Framework of Pedagogical Paper Plays." This paper describes a gaming method of simulating…