The central messages of this paper are that (a) unequal variances may be more prevalent than typically imagined in educational and policy research, and (b) when considering tests of equal variances one needs to be cautious about what is being referred to as "Levene's test" because Levene's test is actually a family of techniques. Depending on…

High school teacher Cara M. Arver walks teachers through her experience of setting up a virtual world to augment students' reading of "Lord of the Flies." Students interact as additional characters, discuss and solve problems based on the circumstances of the story, and complete classroom assignments within a virtual environment.

In this paper, we present a review of research into the problems of implementing authentic scientific inquiry curricula in schools and the emerging use of educational Multi-User Virtual Environments (MUVEs) to support interactive scientific inquiry practices. Our analysis of existing literature in this growing area of study reveals three recurrent…

In analyzing exploratory repeated measures data with more than two measures, two competing tests must be administered simultaneously if one is to make an efficient and effective decision regarding the tenability of the null hypothesis of no differences among measurement means. Obviously, such a procedure is not without a cost vis-a-vis Type I…

A comparison of measures of association for 2x2 data was carried out by computer analysis. For each of 1,539 tables, 14 measures of association were calculated and evaluated. A measure based on the odds-ratio (Chambers, 1982) was most accurate in capturing the rho underlying a majority of the tables. (Author/BW)

The meaningful investigation of many problems in statistics can be solved through Monte Carlo methods. Monte Carlo studies can help solve problems that are mathematically intractable through the analysis of random samples from populations whose characteristics are known to the researcher. Using Monte Carlo simulation, the values of a statistic are…

Tested empirically the applicability of a method developed by S. Mattson for generating data on latent variables with controlled skewness and kurtosis of the observed variables. Monte Carlo simulation results suggest that Mattson's method appears to be a good approach to generate data with defined levels of skewness and kurtosis. (SLD)

Reviews efforts to develop computer-based, case-management simulations for use in training rehabilitation counselors. Describes exemplary systems. Discusses issues related to research and development of computer software in case-management training. (Author)

The Feature Integration Theory of visual search proposed by A. M. Treisman and others (1980, 1986) is reviewed, and a modified Guided Search theory is presented in which the parallel stage guides the serial stage as it chooses display elements to process. A computer simulation illustrates the theory. (SLD)

A bidimensional 2-parameter logistic model was applied to data generated for 2 groups on a 40-item test. Item parameters were the same across groups; correlation across the 2 traits varied. Results indicate the need for caution in using item-response theory (IRT)-based invariance indexes with multidimensional data for these groups. (TJH)

Computer simulations are described in which pairs of simulated individuals in groups play a prisoner's dilemma game, with the choice to cooperate determined by one of three simple heuristics. Results reveal that the prevalence of cooperation depends on the heuristic used, value of the payoff, and the social comparison process. (SLD)

The parallel distributed processing model of visual word recognition in reading developed by Seidenberg and McClelland (1989) is extended through simulation. A response by Seidenberg and McClelland recognizes merits of the expanded model and outlines requirements for supplanting their original model. (SLD)

A discipline in which scientists seek to simulate and synthesize lifelike behaviors within computers, chemical mixtures, and other media is discussed. A computer program with self-replicating digital "organisms" that evolve as they compete for computer time and memory is described. (KR)

Simulated population data were used to compare relative performances of the modification index and C. Chou and P. M. Bentler's Lagrange multiplier test (a multivariate generalization of a modification index) for four levels of model misspecification. Both indices failed to recover the true model except at the lowest level of misspecification. (SLD)

Coordination is a key issue in the design of organizational structures and processes. In this article, the authors propose a body of concepts that support the modeling and computer simulation of organizational processes and organizational coordination. Three aspect models are described that highlight different coordination aspects, and future…