Type I error rates of F. M. Lord's chi square test for differential item functioning were investigated using Monte Carlo simulations with marginal maximum likelihood estimation and marginal Bayesian estimation algorithms. Lord's chi square did not provide useful Type I error control for the three-parameter logistic model at these sample sizes.…

Estimating item parameters from a two-parameter normal ogive model is considered using Gibbs sampling to simulate draws from the joint posterior distribution of ability and item parameters. The method gives marginal posterior density estimates for any parameter of interest, as illustrated using data from a 33-item mathematics placement…

Analysis of a two-way sample of means is considered when corresponding population means are believed a priori to satisfy a partial order restriction. Simulation and the Gibbs sampler are used to summarize posterior distributions, and the posterior distribution is used to predict GPAs of first-year students at University of Iowa. (SLD)

Revealing or visualizing the thinking involved in making clinical decisions is a challenge. A case study is presented with a visual implement for sharing the diagnostic process. This technique adapts the Bayesian approach to the case presentation. Pretest probabilities and likelihood ratios are gathered to obtain post-test probabilities of every…

Based on the Dyches and Prater (2000) guidelines, characterizations and plots in 34 eligible children's books published during 1999-2003 were evaluated; 36 characterizations are discussed in detail in terms of each guideline. Results showed that, compared to a previous study (Dyches, Prater, & Cramer, 2001), characters with developmental…

The authors describe the preliminary development and validation of the Authenticity in Relationships Scale. An initial pool of 37 items addressing various elements of the proposed definition of "relationship authenticity" was administered to 2 independent samples of undergraduates (N = 487) who acknowledged being in a current romantic…

This study of a national sample of elders served by the Independent Living Program for Older Individuals Who Are Blind found that, overall, they were highly satisfied with the quality and timeliness of services and help in achieving independent living goals. A slight improvement was found in their perceptions of functional outcomes from 1999 to…

We consider human performance on an optimal stopping problem where people are presented with a list of numbers independently chosen from a uniform distribution. People are told how many numbers are in the list, and how they were chosen. People are then shown the numbers one at a time, and are instructed to choose the maximum, subject to the…

A method is proposed for optimizing cutting scores for a selection-placement-mastery problem simultaneously. A simultaneous approach has two advantages over separate optimization. First, test scores used in previous decisions can be used as "prior data" in later decisions, increasing the efficiency of the decisions. Then, more realistic…

The author discusses some approaches to assessing the impact of inaccurate information when the planning system involves formulae of the management accounting type or models of the operational research variety. The most appropriate method for quantifying information value in management information systems is through Bayesian analysis and decision…

The purpose of this paper is to link empirical Bayes methods with two specific topics in item response theory--item/subtest regression, and testing the goodness of fit of the Rasch model--under the assumptions of local independence and sufficiency. It is shown that item/subtest regression results in empirical Bayes estimates only if the Rasch…

The purpose of this paper is to simultaneously optimize decision rules for combinations of elementary decisions. As a result of this approach, rules are found that make more efficient use of the data than does optimizing those decisions separately. The framework for the approach is derived from empirical Bayesian theory. To illustrate the…

A general approach is proposed for modeling the structure of a two-way contingency table, and for drawing inferences about the marginal and interaction effects, cell parameters, and conditional probabilities. The prior distribution expresses uncertainty in a simple reduced model, in particular the independence model. The posterior estimates of the…

A decision-theoretic procedure is outlined which provides a framework within which Bayesian statistical methods can be employed with criterion-referenced tests to improve the quality of decision making in objectives based instructional programs. (Author/DEP)

The Computer-Assisted Data Analysis (CADA) Monitor is a set of conversational-language interactive computer programs that permit relatively inexperienced persons to perform relatively complex statistical data analysis. The Monitor leads the user through an analysis on a step-by-step basis providing the necessary direction, information, and…