Examined several hypotheses about the suitability of the noncentral chi square in applied research using Monte Carlo simulation experiments with seven sample sizes and three distinct model types, each with five specifications. Results show that, in general, for models with small to moderate misspecification, the noncentral chi-square is well…

Describes an activity designed to demonstrate the birthday paradox and introduce students to real-world applications of Monte Carlo-type simulation techniques. Includes a sample TI-83 program and graphical analysis of the birthday problem function. (KHR)

Presents the design and implementation of a reliable multipeer protocol (RMPP), which is written in Java and is suitable for applications in the area of distributed virtual environments (DVEs). Discusses motivation, protocol classification, design goals and the error recovery algorithm and lists implementation issues. Presents two possible…

Estimates from a hazard model of college student departure for 3,975 students simulated how financial aid changes affect withdrawal decisions. Changing loans to scholarships has a large impact and front-loading aid (giving gift aid for the first 2 years) a modest impact on retention. Financial aid may represent more to students than its dollar…

A study of 46 management students compared three methods for learning strategic management: cases, simulation, and action learning through consulting projects. Simulation was superior to action learning on all outcomes and equal or superior to cases on two. Simulation gave students a central role in management and greater control of the learning…

A partnership between a university school of nursing and a health care information technology supplier resulted in the Simulated E-hEalth Delivery System (SEEDS). This program enables nursing students to learn clinical skills in a state-of-the-art environment using a live-production, clinical information system designed for care delivery. (JOW)

Examined the behavior of item and person statistics from item response theory and classical test theory frameworks through Monte Carlo methods with simulated test data. Findings suggest that item difficulty and person ability estimates are highly comparable for both approaches. (SLD)

Discusses conceptual knowledge acquisition using computer simulation and describes a study of undergraduates that examined the role of metacognitive skillfulness and intellectual ability during initial inductive learning with a complex computer simulation. Results showed that metacognitive skillfulness was positively related to learning behavior…

A study found that dental students' previous experience with simulated operative procedures transferred well to subsequent training in other operative procedures but not to procedures in fixed prosthodontics, suggesting that transfer of training is highly specific. (Author/MSE)

A model for organizing crisis intervention efforts outlines three levels of intervention: primary prevention, secondary intervention, and tertiary prevention. Emphasizes the importance of conducting crisis drills, which are an example of secondary intervention. Includes a 15-point crisis intervention checklist. (MLF)

The literature on the use of standardized patients, lay persons trained to portray a particular patient, is reviewed, focusing on their use in medical education and potential applications in dental education. A test of 80 dental students using standardized patients is also described and evaluated. (MSE)

A method is presented that simultaneously estimates cluster membership and corresponding regression functions for a sample of observations or subjects. This methodology is presented with the simulated annealing-based algorithm. A set of Monte Carlo analyses is included to demonstrate the performance of the algorithm. (SLD)

A Monte Carlo study of the validity of the Inverse Scree Test under conditions where true group membership is known was conducted. Fifty cluster analyses of each distribution involving 2 to 5 true groups of 3,000 simulated subjects were made. Implications for the data analyst are discussed. (SLD)

Major issues related to index-of-fit conjoint analysis were addressed in this simulation study. Goals were to develop goodness-of-fit criteria for conjoint analysis; develop tests to determine the significance of conjoint analysis results; and calculate the power of the test of the null hypothesis of random data distribution. (SLD)

The study examined how 3 medical information-gathering processes (history-taking, physical examination, and diagnostic studies) influenced 175 second-year medical students' formulations of the differential and the principal diagnoses of 14 simulated patient management problems in comparison with experienced clinicians. Students emphasized…