Abstract: Techniques for finding sets of values that are relevant to attaining desired results, determining discrepancies between how different entities regard a set of values, and employing the discrepancies to determine how well individuals “fit” with other individuals or communities, how well communities fit with each other, how an entity's values compare with a desired set thereof, how an entity's values change over time, and what progress an entity is making towards acquiring value hierarchies that are useful in attaining the desired results. All of the techniques involve having entities assign values to hierarchies, with the value's position in the hierarchy being represented by a rating number upon which arithmetic operations may be performed. Discrepancies between value systems may be determined by comparing the rating numbers which the entities assign the values.

Abstract: A person's mastery of a body of knowledge is determined by having the person write objective questions for a test that is given to a group of test takers. The results of the test are then analyzed to determine how well the person's questions discriminated between those who did well on the test and those who did poorly. The better the questions discriminate, the more mastery the person has of the body of knowledge. In a learning situation, a cycle of study, writing questions, analyzing the results, and determining mastery may be repeated until the desired degree of mastery is reached. The technique may be used for individuals or groups and both the question writers and the test takers may work in teams. Question writers may also be test takers, and the evaluation of a question writer may reflect both the extent to which his or her questions discriminate and his or her performance on the test.

Abstract: Techniques for finding sets of values that are relevant to attaining desired results, determining discrepancies between how different entities regard a set of values, and employing the discrepancies to determine how well individuals “fit” with other individuals or communities, how well communities fit with each other, how an entity's values compare with a desired set thereof, how an entity's values change over time, and what progress an entity is making towards acquiring value hierarchies that are useful in attaining the desired results. All of the techniques involve having entities assign values to hierarchies, with the value's position in the hierarchy being represented by a rating number upon which arithmetic operations may be performed. Discrepancies between value systems may be determined by comparing the rating numbers which the entities assign the values.