A method for multidimensional scaling that is highly resistant to the effects of outliers is described. Some Monte Carlo simulations illustrate the efficacy of the procedure, which performs well with or without outliers. (SLD)

A simulation study by B. D. Wright and G. A. Douglas is critiqued, which indicates that the unconditional maximum likelihood method is an appropriate substitute for the theoretically superior conditional method for estimating parameters of the Rasch model. The study appears to rest on inadequate logic. (TJH)

Describes the use of cases in technical writing and ancient exercises of impersonation and "suasoria." Discusses similarities between the two, and argues that the historical tradition both validates and broadens the uses of this modern methodology. (RS)

An instructional activity designed to clarify pharmacological concepts related to drug use is described. The focus of the activity is a simulation, with student actors, of the effect of drugs and alcohol on the nervous system. (IAH)

Describes exploratory experiments in evaluating and improving a thesaurus through studying its effect on retrieval. A formula was developed to measure the conceptual distance between queries and documents encoded as sets of thesaurus terms. Comparison to the performance of people judging conceptual distance shows that the formula accurately…

The theoretical approaches taken by the LOGIST and BILOG computer programs for estimating the parameters of the three-parameter logistic item response model, and their practical consequences, are compared. Guidelines for choosing between the programs for particular applications are offered. (SLD)

Presents the theory behind the mechanics demonstration that involves projecting a ball vertically upward from a ballistic cart moving along an inclined plane. The measured overshoot is believed to be due, in part, to the presence of rolling friction and the inertial properties of the cart wheels. (JRH)

Describes the use of a spreadsheet in running a hands-on prey/predator simulation that enables students to see the effect of selection pressure on one allele in a gene pool. Discusses setting up and running the simulation, class discussion issues, exploring assumptions, and extensions. (JRH)

The accuracy of four empirical techniques to estimate shrinkage in multiple regression was studied through Monte Carlo simulation. None of the techniques provided unbiased estimates of the population squared multiple correlation coefficient, but the normalized jackknife and bootstrap techniques demonstrated marginally acceptable performance with…

Large-sample standard errors of linear equating for the counterbalanced design are derived using the general delta method. Computer simulations found that standard errors derived without the normality assumption were more accurate than those derived with the normality assumption in a large sample with moderately skewed score distributions. (SLD)

Public high school students with deafness vividly learned about the realities of discrimination when they were informed of "new rules for deaf students," which required that they wear "deaf badges" in school, follow a strict dress code, and so on. After the "new rules" hoax was revealed, students' feelings and reactions to the situation were…

Explores the relationship between virtual reality (VR) stimulation and perceptual equivalence. Topics include perceived realism; creating a virtual illusion; displayed realism; and VR as an instructional technology. (Author/AEF)

A Monte Carlo study considers the use of meta analysis with the Solomon four-group design. Experiment-wise Type I error properties and the relative power properties of Stouffer's Z in the Solomon four-group design are explored. Obstacles to conducting meta analysis in the Solomon design are discussed. (SLD)

The Shortlist model is presented, which incorporates the desirable properties of earlier models of back-propagation networks with recurrent connections that successfully model many aspects of human spoken word recognition. The new model is entirely bottom-up and can readily perform simulations with vocabularies of tens of thousands of words. (DR)

Examples of two theory-based computerized learning systems--Smithtown and Sherlock--show that most success arises when learning tasks are well structured. Such systems teach procedural rather than conceptual knowledge and support individualized learning better than group learning. (SK)