http://worldcat.org/entity/work/id/2554529698

Variables in adaptive decisions in individualized instruction

This study attempts to elucidate some quantitative measures to assess the adequacy of adaptive decisions in individualized materials. The primary purpose of the study is to improve the curriculum developer's ability to generate better adaptive materials by improving his judgment of the quality of the diagnostic portions of his material in meeting the objectives of adaptive instruction. Three measures of variables reflecting the rationale of adapting to individual differences are presented. These measures are: (a) ratio of teaching time to total time, (b) predictive validity ratio, and (c) discriminability ratio. The use of these measures are demonstrated with seven widely diverse examples of adaptive programs. Each of the three measures yielded a considerable range of values over the seven programs, but none of the programs proved adequate on all three measures of the necessary conditions for adaptive decisions. Although adapting instruction with prescriptive tests may continue to be widely used, there is not yet an empirical basis for that use. (Author/RC).

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