The adequacy of "rule of thumb" conventional cutoff criteria and several alternatives for fit indices in covariance structure analysis was evaluated through simulation. Analyses suggest that, for all recommended fit indexes except one, a cutoff criterion greater than (or sometimes smaller than) the conventional rule of thumb is required…

Simulation studies indicate that, for responses to complete tests, construction of Rasch measures from observational data, followed by principal components factor analysis of Rasch residuals, provides an effective means of identifying multidimensionality. The most diagnostically useful residual form was found to be the standardized residual. (SLD)

This study assessed the accuracy of parallel analysis, a technique in which observed eigenvalues are compared to eigenvalues from simulated data when no real factors are present. Three studies with manipulated sizes of real factors and sample sizes illustrate the importance of modeling the data more closely when parallel analysis is used. (SLD)

Using item mean squares to evaluate fit to the Rasch model was studied, also considering the transformed version of the item fit statistics. Simulations demonstrate that the critical value for the mean square used to detect misfit is affected by the type of mean square and the number of persons in the calibration. (SLD)

The observed effectiveness and efficacy of discovery learning in simulated environments is reviewed, along with problems learners may encounter in discovery learning. How simulations can be combined with instructional support is discussed. Successful discovery learning is related to reasoning from hypotheses, applying the discovery process, and…

Developed a new regression equation to estimate the mean value of eigenvalues in parallel analysis and studied the performance of the equation in comparison with previously published regression equations through simulation. Performance of the new equation was comparable to that of the LCHF equation of G. Lautenschlager and others (1989). (SLD)

Proposes an estimation method for the Rasch model that is based on the pseudolikelihood theory of B. Arnold and D. Strauss (1988). Simulation results show great similarity between estimates from this method with those from conditional maximum likelihood and unconditional maximum likelihood estimates for the item parameters of the Rasch model. (SLD)

Cognitive and decision-making capabilities and motor responses were assessed for 24 older adults using 15 videotaped driving scenarios. Older drivers performed better on the simulation than the written test. Men performed better, drove more miles per year, and did more highway driving, differences attributed to handgrip strength or sex-role…

Presents 10 steps that help teachers and students create a motivating and relevant simulation on an environmental topic of local interest. Steps include gathering information, selecting the problem, interviewing community members, determining interest groups, investigating interest groups, choosing the decision-making body and setting the…

It is argued that outlier-prone distributions reduce the power of nonparametric tests, but power can be restored through procedures usually associated with parametric tests. Computer simulation is used to show how an outlier detection and downweighting procedure augments the power of the t-test and the Wilcoxon-Mann-Whitney test. (SLD)

The effects of different degrees of smoothing on results of equipercentile equating in random groups design using a postsmoothing method based on cubic splines were investigated, and a computer-based procedure was introduced for selecting a desirable degree of smoothing. Results suggest that no particular degree of smoothing was always optimal.…

It is argued that the reduction of cognitive dissonance can be viewed as a constraint satisfaction problem, and a computational model of the process of consonance seeking is proposed. Simulations from this model matched psychological findings from the insufficient justification and free-choice paradigms of cognitive dissonance theory. (SLD)

Studied whether circular equating could provide an adequate measure of various types of equating error when applied to different equating methods under different equating designs. Analyses and simluations show that circular equating is generally invalid as a criterion to evaluate the adequacy of equating. (SLD)

Proposed a refinement, based on the stratification of items developed by D. Weiss (1973), of the computerized adaptive testing item selection procedure of H. Chang and Z. Ying (1999). Simulation studies using an item bank from the Graduate Record Examination show the benefits of the new procedure. (SLD)

Discusses challenges in teaching lasers and optical communications to engineers, including the prohibitive cost of laboratory experiments, and describes the development of a computer-based photonics simulation experiment module which provides students with an understanding and visualization of how lasers can be modulated in telecommunications.…