The construction cost estimate, often expressed as an absolute cost, leads to misunderstanding between client, designers, and builders. If estimates are to be used as adequate cost indicators, their probabilistic nature must be recognized and they must be expressed not as absolute numbers but in terms of a number with some indication of the…

The problem of comparing proportions when some data are missing is investigated, and determination is made of what statistical techniques are appropriate under each of several probability models describing the observations likely to be missing. Monte Carlo methods were used to investigate the properties of standard estimators under each of the…

Five distribution-free alternatives to parametric analysis of covariance are presented and demonstrated: Quade's distribution-free test, Puri and Sen's solution, McSweeney and Porter's rank transformation, Burnett and Barr's rank difference scores, and Shirley's general linear model solution. The results of simulation studies regarding Type I…

This special issues describes multidimensional scaling (MDS), with emphasis on proximity and preference models. An introduction and six papers review statistical developments in MDS study design and scrutinize MDS research in four areas of application (consumer, social, cognitive, and vocational psychology). (SLD)

This study of maximum likelihood confirmatory factor analysis found effects of practical significance due to sample size, the number of indicators per factor, and the number of factors for Joreskog and Sorbom's (1981) goodness-of-fit index (GFI), GFI adjusted for degrees of freedom, and the root mean square residual. (Author/BW)

Presents a computational method based on a Monte Carlo generation of a large number of chemical reactions. The reactions are allowed to proceed on the basis of relative probabilities. (MLH)

For complex educational assessments, there is an increasing use of "item families," which are groups of related items. However, calibration or scoring for such an assessment requires fitting models that take into account the dependence structure inherent among the items that belong to the same item family. C. Glas and W. van der Linden…

Educational assessments that exploit advances in technology and cognitive psychology can produce observations and pose student models that outstrip familiar test-theoretic models and analytic methods. Bayesian inference networks (BINs), which include familiar models and techniques as special cases, can be used to manage belief about students'…

Structural equation modeling (SEM) attempts to remove the negative influence of measurement error and allows for investigation of relationships at the level of the underlying constructs of interest. SEM has been regarded as a "large sample" technique since its inception. Recent developments in SEM, some of which are currently available…

Monitoring school performance increasingly uses sophisticated analytical techniques. This document investigates whether one such method, hierarchical growth modeling, yields consistent school performance results when different metrics are used as the outcome variable. It is examined as to whether statistical and substantive inferences are altered…

Discusses the different strategies employed by three practical nonmetric multidimensional scaling algorithms using Monte Carlo techniques. (Author/RK)

The effectiveness of two iterative methods of item response theory (IRT) item bias detection was examined in a simulation study. A modified form of the iterative item parameter linking method of F. Drasgow and an adaptation of the test purification procedure of F. M. Lord were compared. (SLD)

Functional and structural relationship alternatives to the standard "F"-test for analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) are discussed for cases when the covariate is measured with error. An approximate statistical test based on the functional relationship approach is preferred on the basis of Monte Carlo simulation results. (SLD)

A comparison is made of the power and actual alpha levels of three tests of homogeneity for independent product-moment correlation coefficients using Monte Carlo methods while selectively studying sample size and varying the number of correlation reliabilities. How robust these are in applied work is discussed. (SLD)

Because many applications of personnel selection and classification technology may require more than 10 assignment categories, a Monte Carlo simulation was conducted to extend the Brogden tables for estimations classifications and selection benefits from 10 to 500. The extended table would have higher utility. (SLD)