Developed are simple recursion formulas for generating the exact distribution of the longest run of heads, both for a fair coin and for a biased coin. Discusses the applications of runs-related phenomena such as molecular biology, Markov chains, geometric variables, and random variables. (YP)

The effect of large, within-examinee item difficulty variability on estimates of the proportion of consistent classification of examinees into mastery categories was studied over 2 test administrations for 100 simulated examinees. The proportion of consistent classifications was adequately estimated using the technique proposed by M. Subkoviak…

Judgment analysis was used to determine whether 65 superintendents of large and medium school districts used all available information to make decisions about effective educational programs in simulated environments. Superintendents judged 75 numerical profiles of environmental conditions. Subjects relied on only part of the available information…

In a few select high schools in the U.S., supercomputers are allowing talented students to attempt sophisticated research projects using simultaneous simulations of nature, culture, and technology not achievable by ordinary microcomputers. Schools can get their students online by entering contests and seeking grants and partnerships with…

Investigates the effects of realism and perceived control on student satisfaction with the SuperShrink interview. Compares active/passive and computer/hardcopy conditions. Findings show students rate the computer versions as more satisfying. Suggests computers are superior to hardcopy simulations of human interactions. (Author/NL)

The acceptability of two different training methods (simulation training using a doll and simulation training on self) for teaching menstrual hygiene skills to young women with developmental disabilities was evaluated in two experiments. Results suggested that opinions about treatment acceptability should be obtained from both professional and…

Describes how to enhance the benefits of using the Carmen Sandiego educational software programs by building in generous amounts of creative fun and writing activities. Discusses journal writing, character sketches, letter writing, writing a book, and report writing. (RS)

Discussion of educational games that can be configured to accommodate changes in the structure of the game focuses on MANAGEMENT 500, a microcomputer-controlled prototype business simulation game. Three modes of learning that can be emphasized through a configurable simulation game are explained: learning by discovery, by perseverance, and by…

Reviews evidence that children use diverse cognitive strategies; discusses the adaptive value of using diverse strategies; describes models of strategy choice based on rational calculations; and presents an overview of the distributions of associations model of children's strategy choice. (RH)

Investigates the value of applying principles derived from simulated annealing to clustering tuples in database design, and compares this technique with a graph-collapsing clustering method. It is concluded that, while the new method does give superior results, the expense involved in algorithm run time is prohibitive. (24 references) (CLB)

Establishes a theoretical basis for both understanding and testing the molecular level assumptions in mixtures. Considers activity coefficient models and equation of state mixing rules. (YP)

Described are analytical applications of the theory of random processes, in particular solutions obtained by using statistical procedures known as Monte Carlo techniques. Supercomputer simulations, sampling, integration, ensemble, annealing, and explicit simulation are discussed. (CW)

Student teams in a senior capstone course in marketing completed microcomputer simulation in which they developed six-month marketing plan for a new product. A procedure similar to Kelly's Role Repertory Test was applied to define the role that various information sources played in their decision-making process, a means of determining the amount…

This study investigated the distributional properties of the standardized residual that is commonly used in the Rasch model calibration program to develop various indices of item and person fit. The power of the standardized residual to detect measurement disturbances is also addressed. (TJH)

A computerized, simulation-based instrument, consisting of four community practice clinical scenarios, collected information-searching data and the students' decisions. The appropriateness of the decisions, assessed by three clinical judges, and the focus of information search, based on the computer-collected process data, were the dependent…