In this study of 547 high school graduates, Alderfer's and Maslow's need hierarchy theories were expressed in Markov chain form and were subjected to empirical test. Both models were disconfirmed. Corroborative multiwave correlational analysis also failed to support the need hierarchy concept. (Author/IRT)

Two applications of Kristof's theorem on traces of matrix products are presented in order to highlight their utility for psychometric theory and studies. (Author/JKS)

The IR systems are faced with a need to manage fuzziness and not merely to react to fuzziness. Fuzzy set theory can be used to model the indexing and retrieval processes. (BD)

Within the beta-binomial Bayesian framework, procedures are described for the evaluation of the kappa index of reliability on the basis of one administration of a domain-referenced test. Major factors affecting this index include cutoff score, test score variability and test length. Empirical data which substantiate some theoretical trends deduced…

A number of different reliability coefficients have recently been proposed for tests used to differentiate between groups such as masters and nonmasters. One promising index is the proportion of students in a class that are consistently assigned to the same mastery group across two testings. The present paper proposes a single test administration…

Suggests a framework for evaluation studies, discusses possible classifications of evaluation studies, and makes a distinction between evaluation and policy studies. The possible uses of evaluation studies are shown as they relate to kinds of decisions and the organizational framework in which decision-making takes place. (Author/IRT)

Methods for studying relationships between patterns of change on different variables are considered, showing how the multilevel modeling framework, often used to study univariate change, can be extended to the multivariate case to yield estimates of covariances of parameters representing aspects of change for different variables. (SLD)

Two competing longitudinal models, the latent growth curve model and the Simplex model, are used to represent the Matthew effect hypothesis (K. Stanovich, 1986) that the gap between good and poor readers increases with time. Theoretical and empirical arguments support the Simplex model, although it is argued that it should be refined and…

Predictive discriminant analysis and descriptive discriminant analysis are described, and the use of three popular statistical packages to obtain computational results for each type of discriminant analysis is reviewed. Results from two Biomedical Computer Program (BMDP), four Statistical Analysis System, and two Statistical Package for the Social…

The use of analogy in human thinking is examined from the perspective of a multiconstraint theory that postulates similarity, structure, and purpose as three kinds of constraints. The theory has been implemented in computational simulations of the analogical human mind using the Analogical Mapping by Constraint Satisfaction (ACME) model. (SLD)

Notes that because estimates of effect sizes are often either misreported or not reported at all, meta-analysts must use conversion formulas that allow estimates of effect sizes from information available. Focuses on formulas that convert "F" in ANOVA, a statistical test, to eta-squared, "d," or the correlation equivalent. Demonstrates that the…

Discusses the Linear Logistic Test Model (LLTM) and demonstrates that there are many equivalent ways to specify a model. Analyzed a real data set (300 responses to 5 analogies) using a Lagrange multiplier test for the specification of the model, and demonstrated that there may be many ways to change the specification of an LLTM and achieve the…

Demonstrates the importance of expanding notions of learning beyond knowledge to the practices in mathematics classrooms. Considers a three-year study of students who learned through mathematical modeling. Shows that a modeling approach encouraged the development of a range of important practices in addition to knowledge that were useful in real…

Proposes a developmental model involving four response levels concerning how students arrange pictures to represent data in a pictograph, how they interpret these pictographs, and how they make predictions based on these pictographs. The model is exemplified by responses from three related interview-based studies. Discusses educational…

Develops an inter-temporal optimization model linking academic achievement reputation, and the pool of student quality available to an institution. Describes empirical study of student-quality dynamics and its relation to the model. Finds that SAT levels of attracted students follow a convergent process as predicted, with graduation rates,…