This paper reports findings of a pilot study that examined the pedagogical potential of "Second Life" (SL), a popular three-dimensional multi-user virtual environment (3-D MUVE) developed by the Linden Lab. The study is part of a 1-year research and development project titled "Modelling of Secondlife Environments"…

"Gedankensimulation" is a term adapted from Einstein's "thought experiments" to indicate mentally created simulations that can help conceptualize ideas. Presents seven examples of simulations that can be utilized to solve problems or illustrate concepts in probability and statistics. Problem contexts include games of chance,…

The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of test dimensionality on the stability of examinee ability estimates and item response theory (IRT) based score reports. A simulation procedure based on W. F. Stout's Essential Unidimensionality was used to generate test data with one dominant trait for the whole test and three minor traits…

Many missing data studies have simulated data, randomly deleted values, and investigated the method of handling the missing values that would most closely approximate the original data. Regression procedures have emerged as the most recommended methods. If the values are missing randomly, these procedures are effective. If, however, the values are…

This paper evaluated multidimensional linking procedures with which multidimensional test data from two separate calibrations were put on a common scale. Data were simulated with known ability distributions varying on two factors which made linking necessary: mean vector differences and variance-covariance (v-c) matrix differences. After the…

This paper discusses issues of representation in the use of scientific visualizations, specifically those used for biomedical applications, and the implications of those issues to interface design. Topics addressed include the benefits of research into the generation of virtual simulation (virtual reality) and the importance of realism. (Contains…

Equating a test form to itself through a chain of equatings, commonly referred to as circular equating, has been widely used as a criterion to evaluate the adequacy of equating. This paper uses both analytical methods and simulation methods to show that this criterion is in general invalid in serving this purpose. For the random groups design done…

Logistic regression was used for modeling the observation-to-indicator ratio needed for the standard error scree procedure (SEscree) to correctly identify the number of factors existing in generated sample correlation matrices. The created correlation matrices were manipulated along the number of factors (4,6), sample size (250, 500), magnitude of…

A variety of approaches have been suggested by which to assess the equality of population mean vectors under conditions of population covariance matrix homogeneity and heterogeneity. The nonrobustness of commonly used multivariate tests of means to population covariance matrix heterogeneity has been long documented. However, most studies have…

The performance of analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) and six selected competitors was examined under varying experimental conditions through Monte Carlo simulations. The six alternatives were: (1) Quade's procedure (D. Quade, 1967); (2) Puri and Sen's solution (M. Puri and P. Sen, 1969); (3) Burnett and Barr's rank difference scores (T. Burnett and…

A probability distribution was developed for the Andrews-Pregibon (AP) statistic. The statistic, developed by D. F. Andrews and D. Pregibon (1978), identifies multivariate outliers. It is a ratio of the determinant of the data matrix with an observation deleted to the determinant of the entire data matrix. Although the AP statistic has been used…

This report presents a research plan to guide the determination of the empirical relationship between level of maintenance training simulator fidelity and training effectiveness. Chapter I describes data collection and analysis activities undertaken to provide guidance for fidelity decision making by the training simulator development community.…

A model for population growth is described. (SD)

The major purpose of this investigation was to develop a program for teaching a specific counselor verbal skill and to examine the effect of simulation methods within the program. (Author)