Presents activities designed to engage students in an experiential and theoretical application of problems in precalculus and to study geometry, coordinate systems, rates, linear applications, and the concept of function. Illustrates problem situations and includes student worksheets and a teacher's guide. (KHR)

Describes a lesson plan in which students design scale models of kitchens using proportional reasoning and measuring skills. (YDS)

Describes the development of mathematical thinking as children construct a mini mall. Students learn the importance of cooperation with their peers as they explore mathematical concepts such as one-to-one correspondence, classification, intersection of sets, coin identification and values, addition, subtraction, and problem solving. (Author/NB)

Proposes a modified version of commonly employed item response models in a fully Bayesian framework and obtains inferences under the model using Markov chain Monte Carlo techniques. Demonstrates use of the model in a series of simulations and with operational data from the North Carolina Test of Computer Skills and the Test of Spoken English…

Constructs a model using an idiosyncratic expected-earnings variable to explain the probability that a student will choose a specific major among four choices of concentrations. Finds that the expected-earnings variable is essential in the choice of a college major; however, there are significant differences in the impact of expected earnings by…

Uses national longitudinal data set of 8th-graders to examine 2 potential explanations (returns to schooling and noncognitive skills) for the fact that nearly 60 percent of today's college students are women. Finds that higher noncognitive skills and college premiums among women account for nearly 90 percent of the gender gap in higher education.…

Focuses on the activity system of school-teaching mathematics and the impact of mathematical modeling. Describes the Applications of and Modeling in School Mathematics Project (AMSMAP) which investigates teachers' mathematical modeling and its relationship to a hypothesized school mathematical modeling activity system. Discusses the notion of an…

The equating of results from the PC-BILOG computer program to an underlying metric was studied through simulation when a two-parameter item response theory model was used. Results are discussed in terms of the identification problem and implications for test equating. (SLD)

Problems in the measurement of latent variables (LVs) in structural equations causal models are presented, with examples from recent empirical studies. Main issues addressed are (1) two general types of increased operative variables; (2) criteria for indicators of LVs; and (3) disattenuation effects in LV models. (SLD)

A new coefficient--psi-star--is presented for measuring agreement on bidirectional response continua. The coefficient is designed to measure agreement in larger square contingency tables with even numbers of rows and columns. Advantages of the procedure are discussed. (SLD)

Parameter recovery in the graded-response model was investigated using the MULTILOG computer program under default conditions. Results from 36 simulated data sets suggest that at least 500 examinees are needed to achieve adequate calibration under the graded model. Sample size had little influence on the true ability parameter's recovery. (SLD)

The concept of consensus ordering is defined, and formulas for exact and approximate posterior probabilities for consensus ordering are developed under the assumption of a generalized Mallows' model with a diffuse conjugate prior. These methods are applied to a data set concerning 98 college students. (SLD)

A 2-facet measurement model is identified, and its coefficient of generalizability (CG) is examined. Three other multifaceted measurement models and their CGs are identified. An empirical investigation of all four procedures is conducted using data from a study of the psychopathology of 71 prison inmates. (SLD)

A Bayes estimation procedure for Rasch-type model estimation that has statistical and computational advantages over existing methods is described. It involves constructing posterior distributions based on sample data and artificial data reflecting prior information. Its use for some Rasch-type cases, and how it can improve parameter estimation are…

Examines the elements involved in fitting a bibliometric model to empirical data, proposes a consistent methodology for applying Lotka's law, and presents the results of an empirical test of the methodology. The results are discussed in terms of the validity of Lotka's law and the suitability of the proposed methodology. (49 references) (CLB)