A study was conducted at Thomas Nelson Community College (TNCC) to assess the college's economic impact on its service area in fiscal year 1979. Models, based on linear cash flow formulas, were used to determine impacts on local businesses, governments, and individuals. Students' expenditures and spending for construction were omitted from the…

Three methods of item selection were used to select sets of 38 items from a 50-item verbal analogies test and the resulting item sets were compared for internal consistency, standard errors of measurement, item difficulty, biserial item-test correlations, and relative efficiency. Three groups of 1,500 cases each were used for item selection. First…

Six approaches to assessing test item bias were examined: transformed item difficulty, point biserial correlations, chi-square, factor analysis, one parameter item characteristic curve, and three parameter item characteristic curve. Data sets for analysis were generated by a Monte Carlo technique based on the three parameter model; thus, four…

The purpose of this paper is to introduce a model of the psychological processes that take place when a persuader decides to use or not to use a given persuasive message. The assumption is made that if the perceived emotional impact of a message is more positive than an ethical threshold (which varies from person to person), the persuader will use…

The costs of providing access to serial literature in four university research libraries were examined in this study, and a methodology was developed for comparing borrowing costs with the costs of acquisition, cataloging, maintenance, and circulation. Mathematical models are provided by which any library can determine at what frequency of use of…

Unlike the past models guiding cross-cultural psychological research, a new paradigm facilitates multiple level investigations by incorporating both culture-specific (nested) and culture-general (crossed) independent variables within its partially-hierarchical framework. Based upon the generalizability analysis, this model generates sequential…

The Design of Training Systems (DOTS) project was initiated by the Department of Defense to develop tools for the effective management of military training organizations. Phase 2 of the project, from which this report emanates, involved the design and development of three computer-based mathematical models and their validation. Volume 1 presents…

The thrust of this research exploration is aimed at one of the most pressing social problems facing America today: segregation in the public schools. The school system is only one of a complex set of systems, all interrelated, that comprise the entity that we call a city. The geography of the school system--the location of facilities and the…

In August 1972, Kirkwood Community College began a research project to: (1) ascertain population and enrollment trends by various age groups for each of Iowa's 15 school areas and for the State as a whole; (2) ascertain potential enrollment by categories of students; (3) develop awareness of the relation of population and enrollment changes to…

This paper presents the concepts of a computer-directed system to improve human performance in structured learning situations. Attention is focused on finite-state systems in order to provide a systematic method for constructing training systems and to assist in analysis of problem solving and curriculum planning. The finite-state approach allows…

A hypothetical mathematical model of a school is presented to (1) illustrate what such a model would look like, (2) determine its value to decision makers, and (3) determine its data requirements. The model relates increases in achievement to student/staff ratio, a measure of staff quality, materials used, space available, effort in community…

Two mathematical models of paired-associate learning were used to develop optimal strategies for presenting spelling words to 42 elementary school children. The study was conducted within a computer-based drill-and-practice project. For the study two computer programs were developed. One program presented and corrected the lists of words. The…

A rationale for the use of gaming and simulation for instructional purposes is developed in the introduction to this paper. The major portion of the text is comprised of several models of computer programs for economics instruction. (SHM)

This statewide study achieved the following objectives: (1) It developed a methodology for conducting a benefit-cost analysis of vocational education programs in Florida; (2) It examined, compared, and analyzed public and private costs and benefits of four Florida vocational programs, (3) It compared public and private benefits and costs for…

A key factor in educational planning is providing for an adequate and appropriate supply of teachers for future occupational education needs. This study develops an economic demand and supply model for vocational teachers in secondary schools, a model of the market for teacher services. Data for the study were taken from census reports and from…