Empirical results based on comparison with Monte Carlo estimates and using sample sizes of 200, 100, 50, and 20 suggested that the bootstrap technique provides less biased and more consistent results than the jackknife technique for a case of canonical correlation analysis. (SLD)

Internal measures of differential functioning of items and tests (DFIT) based on item response theory (IRT) are proposed. The new differential test functioning index leads to noncompensatory DIF indices. Monte Carlo studies demonstrate that these indices are accurate in assessing DIF. (SLD)

Discusses the design and analysis of Monte Carlo experiments, with special reference to structural equation modeling. Outlines three fundamental challenges of Monte Carlo approaches and suggests some alternative procedures that challenge conventional wisdom. Asserts that comprehensive Monte Carlo studies can be done with a personal computer if the…

Assessed the relative merits of the Student "t" test and the Wilcoxon rank sum test under four population distributions and six sample-size pairings through Monte Carlo methods. The Wilcoxon rank sum test demonstrated an advantage in statistical power for nonnormal distributions (but not normal distributions), with fewer Type III errors…

Performed an empirical Monte Carlo study using predictor and criterion data from 84,808 U.S. Air Force enlistees. Compared formula-based, traditional empirical, and equal-weights procedures. Discusses issues for basic research on validation and cross-validation. (SLD)

Examined the effect of complex sampling of items on the measurement of differential item functioning (DIF) using the Mantel-Haenszel procedure through a Monte Carlo study. Suggests the superiority of the pooled booklet method when items are selected for examinees according to a balanced incomplete block design. Discusses implications for other DIF…

Studied the effect of including nonindependent correlations in the meta-analysis method of J. Hunter and F. Schmidt on the estimated population standard deviation. Evaluation indicates that the Hunter and Schmidt method will underestimate the true population standard deviation. Developed new methods to correct for this and illustrated the methods…

Studied the use of the person response function (PRF) for identifying nonfitting item score patterns. Proposed a person-fit method reformulated in a nonparametric item response theory (IRT) context. Conducted a simulation study to compare the use of the PRF with a person-fit statistic, resulting in the conclusion that the PRF can be used as a…

Evaluated the performance of several alternative cluster analytic approaches to initial model specification using population parameter analyses and a Monte Carlo simulation. Of the six cluster approaches evaluated, the one using the correlations of item correlations as a proximity metric and average linking as a clustering algorithm performed the…

Used Monte Carlo simulation to examine the performance of four missing data methods in structural equation models: (1)full information maximum likelihood (FIML); (2) listwise deletion; (3) pairwise deletion; and (4) similar response pattern imputation. Results show that FIML estimation is superior across all conditions of the design. (SLD)

Violations of assumptions, inflated Type I error rates, and robustness are important concepts for students to learn in an introductory statistics course. However, these abstract ideas can be difficult for students to understand. Monte Carlo simulation methods can provide a concrete way for students to learn abstract statistical concepts. This…

The authors investigated 2 issues concerning the power of latent growth modeling (LGM) in detecting linear growth: the effect of the number of repeated measurements on LGM's power in detecting linear growth and the comparison between LGM and some other approaches in terms of power for detecting linear growth. A Monte Carlo simulation design was…

The method of least squares (LS) is considered as an important data analysis tool available to physical scientists. The mathematics of linear least squares(LLS) is summarized in a very compact matrix rotation that renders it practically "formulaic".

A Monte Carlo study extended the research of MacKinnon, Lockwood, Hoffman, West, and Sheets (2002) for single-level designs by examining the statistical performance of four methods to test for mediation in a multilevel experimental design. The design studied was a two-group experiment that was replicated across several sites, included a single…

The magnitude of the cultivation effect for perceptual estimates of social reality has been shown to be affected by a number of contextual factors such as source priming and motivation to process information during judgment construction, and these contextual factors have been linked to the use of heuristic processing strategies when constructing…