This dissertation is about a particular style of research. The philosophy of this style is that in order to scientifically understand deep learning, it is fruitful to investigate what happens when neural networks are trained on simple, mathematically well-defined tasks. Even though the training data is simple, the training algorithm can end up…

Grouped and right-censored (GRC) counts have been used in a wide range of attitudinal and behavioural surveys yet they cannot be readily analyzed or assessed by conventional statistical models. This study develops a unified regression framework for the design and optimality of GRC counts in surveys. To process infinitely many grouping schemes for…

This paper presents an improved Distributed Genetic Algorithm (DGA) that surpasses the classic genetic algorithm (GA) in terms of both efficiency and effectiveness when it comes to optimizing faculty scheduling systems. The proposed Differential Evolution Genetic Algorithm (DGA) combines DE with chaotic mapping and asynchronous communication to…

Predictive models play a pivotal role in education by aiding learning, teaching, and assessment processes. However, they have the potential to perpetuate educational inequalities through algorithmic biases. This paper investigates how behavioral differences across demographic groups of different sizes propagate through the student success modeling…

Collaborative problem solving (CPS) enables student groups to complete learning tasks, construct knowledge, and solve problems. Previous research has argued the importance of examining the complexity of CPS, including its multimodality, dynamics, and synergy from the complex adaptive systems perspective. However, there is limited empirical…

Recent approaches to the detection of cheaters in tests employ detectors from the field of machine learning. Detectors based on supervised learning algorithms achieve high accuracy but require labeled data sets with identified cheaters for training. Labeled data sets are usually not available at an early stage of the assessment period. In this…

This article is concerned with a subset of numerically stable and scalable algorithms useful to support computationally complex psychometric models in the era of machine learning and massive data. The subset selected here is a core set of numerical methods that should be familiar to computational psychometricians and considers whitening transforms…

Online peer feedback has proven to be practically useful for instructors and to be useful for learning, especially for the feedback provider. Because students can vary widely in skill level, some research has explored matching reviewer and author by performance level. However, past research on the impacts of reviewer matching has found little…

This study proposed Gibbs sampling algorithms for variable selection in a latent regression model under a unidimensional two-parameter logistic item response theory model. Three types of shrinkage priors were employed to obtain shrinkage estimates: double-exponential (i.e., Laplace), horseshoe, and horseshoe+ priors. These shrinkage priors were…

This paper summarises exploratory analysis undertaken to evaluate the effectiveness of using machine learning approaches to calculate projected completion rates for vocational education and training (VET) programs, and compares this with the current approach used at the National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER) -- Markov chains…

The research problem addressed in this study is that racial bias programmed into predictive algorithm recommendations negatively impacts students in historically underrepresented groups. The purpose of this qualitative descriptive study was to explore the perception of algorithm accuracy among data professionals in higher education and explore the…

Purpose: This study aims to explore the perception of algorithm accuracy among data professionals in higher education. Design/methodology/approach: Social justice theory guided the qualitative descriptive study and emphasized four principles: access, participation, equity and human rights. Data collection included eight online open-ended…

Wildfires pose significant environmental threats in Australia, impacting ecosystems, human lives, and property. This review article provides a comprehensive analysis of various empirical and dynamic wildfire simulators alongside machine learning (ML) techniques employed for wildfire prediction in Australia. The study examines the effectiveness of…

Background: The study focuses on the need to optimise assessment scales for support needs in individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Current scales are often lengthy and redundant, leading to exhaustion and response burden. The goal is to use machine learning techniques, specifically item-reduction methods and selection…

Our work investigated how six primary school students used a non-traditional method for adding and subtracting: the ABN method, a Spanish acronym for Open (method) Based on Numbers. Commognitive theory [Sfard, A. 2008. "Thinking as Communicating: Human Development, the Growth of Discourses, and Mathematizing." New York: Cambridge…