Grading on the curve is a common practice in higher education. While there are many critics of the practice it still finds wide spread acceptance particularly in science classes. Advocates believe that in large classes student ability is likely to be normally distributed. If test scores are also normally distributed instructors and students tend…

A problem that often surfaces in the use of the "t"-test is the absence of critical values for common sample sizes. This problem may cause "guilt" on the part of the professor who must advise students when they encounter discrepancies between their own calculations of the degree of freedom and critical values provided in…

Analyzes a simple boom structure and assesses its reliability using elementary engineering mechanics. Demonstrates the power and utility of Monte-Carlo simulation by showing that such a simulation can be implemented more readily with results that compare favorably to the theoretical calculations. (Author/MM)

A model of Brownian motion is discussed which includes viscosity effects. The model lends itself to Monte Carlo simulation and thus is suitable for an elementary physics laboratory experiment. (BB)

Large-scale Markov chain models and Monte Carlo simulation, two types of models useful for academic managers to analyze academic staffing policies, are described. Their relative advantages and disadvantages regarding technical requirements and performance, as well as managerial usefulness at different levels of the university, are discussed.…

Two sets of real sorting data from 50 college students are used to compare results of multidimensional scaling of raw co-occurrence frequencies or dissimilarity measures (D) and profile distances (delta) to determine which yields a better representation of the underlying structure of 2 sets of stimuli. Slight differences are discussed. (SLD)

An important topic presented in introductory statistics courses is the estimation of population parameters using samples. Students learn that when estimating population variances using sample data, we always get an underestimate of the population variance if we divide by n rather than n-1. One implication of this correction is that the degree of…

Describes the deterministic simulation (a given input always leads to the same output) and probabilistic simulation (new states are subject to predefined laws of chance). Provides examples of the application of the two simulations with mathematical expressions and PASCAL program. Lists seven references. (YP)

A Monte Carlo study was conducted to compare the performance of three statistical indices of test item bias in small samples of examinees. The statistical indices compared were the Delta method, the Mantel-Haenszel (MH) method, and the Standardization method. Sample sizes of 50, 100, and 200 were examined. One thousand samples of each size were…

A Monte Carlo study was conducted to compare the statistical bias and standard errors of non-equivalent-groups linear test equating in small samples of examinees. One thousand samples of each size (15, 25, 50, and 100) were drawn with replacement from each of five archival data files from elementary school and secondary school teacher subject area…