Previous research examining the effects of reducing the number of score groups used in the matching criterion of the Mantel-Haenszel procedure, when screening for differential item functioning, has produced ambiguous results. The goal of this study was to resolve the ambiguity by examining the problem with a simulated data set. The main results…

The assumption of normality underlies much of the standard statistical methodology. Knowing how to determine whether a sample of measurements is from a normally distributed population is crucial both in the development of statistical theory and in practice. W. Ware and J. Ferron have developed a new test statistic, modeled after the K-squared test…

An index is proposed to detect cheating on multiple-choice examinations, and its use is evaluated through simulations. The proposed index is based on the compound binomial distribution. In total, 360 simulated data sets reflecting 12 different cheating (copying) situations were obtained and used for the study of the sensitivity of the index in…

The benefits of item response theory (IRT) will only accrue to a testing program to the extent that model assumptions are met. Obtaining accurate item parameter estimates is a critical first step. However, the sample sizes required for stable parameter estimation are often difficult to obtain in practice, particularly for the more complex models.…

Virtual reality technology offers the promise of interaction with a computer-based environment that engages visual, auditory, and tactile perception. Three interrelated virtual reality design topics are particularly relevant to visual literacy. The first is the concept of avatars. Avatars are agents that appear in a virtual world representing the…

The Mantel-Haenszel (MH) procedure has become one of the most popular procedures for detecting differential item functioning. Valid results with relatively small numbers of examinees represent one of the advantages typically attributed to this procedure. In this study, examinee item responses were simulated to contain differentially functioning…

A simulation game being used in the economics department at the University of North Dakota to introduce students to the world of banking is described. The rationale for this approach is that the economics curriculum tends to be more conceptual than practical in content, and provides limited internship opportunities. The simulation game approach…

The development and implementation of simulated research experiences for use in teaching research methods to undergraduate sociology majors are described. (Author/DE)

A simulation is offered as an example of how it can improve dialogue, encourage valuing, and stimulate student participation in real world experiences. (Author/KM)

This simulation focuses on one of the social and psychological difficulties inherent in the assimilation process, the language barrier. (Author/KM)

Contrary to common belief, reliability estimates of number-right multiple-choice tests are not inflated by speededness. Because examinees guess on questions when they run out of time, the responses to these questions show less consistency with the responses of other questions, and the reliability of the test will be decreased. The surprising…

It is common to assume during statistical analysis of a multiscale assessment that the assessment has simple structure or that it is composed of several unidimensional subtests. Under this assumption, both the unidimensional and multidimensional approaches can be used to estimate item parameters. This paper theoretically demonstrates that these…