Gustave J. Rath

Nurse Scheduling Using Mathematical Programming

This paper formulates the nurse-scheduling problem as one of selecting a configuration of nurse schedules that minimize an objective function that balances the trade-off between staffing coverage and schedule preferences of individual nurses, subject to certain feasibility constraints on the nurse schedules. The problem is solved by a cyclic coordinate descent algorithm. We present results pertaining to a six-month application to a particular hospital unit and draw comparisons between the algorithm and hospital-generated schedules.

Threats to the validity of emergency medical services evaluation: A case study of mobile intensive care units

Much of the literature concerning emergency medical services evaluation has been criticized as unconvincing. Several sources of invalidity have comprised the interpretability of these studies. When true randomized experiments cannot be accomplished, quasi-experimental research designs offer greater interpretability than the more often used pre-experimental designs. In using quasi-experimental research designs, special attention must be given to threats to internal validity. A case study describes an evaluation of mobile intensive care units. The paper describes eighteen threats to the validity of the evaluation, as well as the methods used for their control. Whether or not evaluators can control all of the threats to the validity of their studies, these threats should be identified and their potential effects assessed wherever possible.

The Internet as Intranet: Moving toward the Electronic Classroom

Recently, businesses have begun to utilize Intranets for internal corporate collaboration. As private networks with the functionality, compatibility, and openness of the Internet, the Intranet concept raises unique possibilities for higher education. Most colleges and universities have access to the Internet, and communications of a classroom can be electronically facilitated by a simulated Intranet with little difficulty. We present herein the results of a case study in which the Internet was used in a manner similar to that of corporate Intranets, but in college classrooms. Our Intranets were used with two objectives: first, acquainting students with the usage and power of the Internet, and second, supporting the communication processes of the classes. Based on the results, recommendations are made for Intranet use applicable to both academic and business settings.

Different administrative directions and student ratings of instruction: Cognitive versus affective effects

A manipulation of the instructions students received prior to completing the 7-item Endeavor Instructional Rating card differentially affected their ratings on two types of items. Specifically, when students were led to believe their ratings would have a strong impact on the instructors career, they tended to be more lenient on items measuring rapport (i.e., the affective domain); this same effect was not observed for items measuring pedagogical skill (i.e., the cognitive domain). The different items on our instructional rating instrument appear to be measuring different things. One implication of this observation is that the inconsistent findings reported in past research on student ratings of instruction may be due to the differential mix of items from one instrument to another. When instructors are compared on ratings given them by students, unbiased interpretation requires that the multidimensional nature of teaching (and of the rating instrument) be considered.

The Administrative Experiment: A Special Case of Field Testing or Evaluation

This paper describes a particular strategy and method of field testing or evaluation: administrative experimentation. The method is first defined in terms of its relation to other methods, and its potential strengths and limitations. Second, the method itself is described in some detail. Finally, case studies of its use are presented to provide a basis for evaluating the usefulness of the method.

The Development of Computer-Assisted Instruction

Development of computer-assisted instruction (CAI) at the IBM Research Center, the Decision Sciences Laboratory of Hanscom Air Force Base, the Systems Development Corporation, the University of Illinois, and Bolt Beranek and Newman is reviewed. This review covers the period 1958-1961.

Computers - applications to the quantification of human behavior.

This paper discusses the use of computing machines in the biological and social sciences, namely the ultilization of computerized behavior analysis systems in the quantification of human behavior. Only systems of which living human organisms are a part are considered. Some specific functional uses of computers for stimulus preparation and presentation, response collection, and apparatus scheduling and control are presented. All of these functions may be performed by automated systems characterized by the amount of experimental integration and control performed by the computer. Systems types include on-line open-loop, on-line closed loop single or multiple purpose, and off-line. The multiple-man, multiple-purpose system which permits numerous automated investigations upon different source subjects to occur simultaneously is highlighted as the culmination of current automated behavioral analysis systems. But the possibility of behavioral scientists “tapping” into operating systems is presented as possibly having revolutionary consequences with respect to the data gathering of human behaviour. Finally, a general automated behavioral analysis system schematic assists in discussing current advantages, potential advances, and impending limitations of contributions of computers to the quantification of human behavior.