Background: Youth programs often rely on self-reported data without clear evidence as to the accuracy of these reports. Although the validity of self-reporting has been confirmed among some high school and college age students, one area that is absent from extant literature is a serious investigation among younger children. Moreover, there is…

Survey sampling is fundamentally an applied field. The goal in this book is to put an array of tools at the fingertips of practitioners by explaining approaches long used by survey statisticians, illustrating how existing software can be used to solve survey problems, and developing some specialized software where needed. This book serves at least…

Early adolescence represents a particularly vulnerable period of development during which young people are susceptible to establishing lifelong behavior patterns associated with poor life, health, and educational outcomes. Previous research demonstrates older adolescents and young adults often experience negative life events (NLEs) prior to…

Data on disfluencies in the speech of non-stuttering adults are relevant to several aspects of the assessment and treatment of adults who stutter. Currently, very few sources provide relevant data. In the existing literature on normally fluent speakers, there is no consistency in sample length or topic or in which types of disfluency are counted.…

The authors investigated he National Educational Research and Priorities Board' s (1999, 2000) claim that evidence-based research often lacks relevance for practitioners by investigating the relevance among the Professors' of Curriculum (POC) publications between 1997 and 2003. Findings showed that forty-four (13%) were data-driven and relevant to…

A dialog between two fictional teachers provides some basic examples of how research that uses approved methodology may provide results that are significant statistically but not significant practically. (PGD)

The second half of a dialogue between two fictional teachers examines the significance of statistical significance in research and considers the factors affecting the extent to which research results provide important or useful information. (PGD)

The usefulness of meta-analysis in summarizing domains of primary research has led to widespread use of the techniques. Often, however, the researcher will have several options when cumulating empirical studies and readers will have questions regarding judgment calls made during a meta-analysis. In these cases, it is helpful to consult the primary…

To examine the reasons for declining Scholastic Aptitude Test scores during the past two decades, this paper proposes an empirical achievement model incorporating students' demographic characteristics and an expanding test-taking population. While test scores and participation rates are positively correlated, participation changes over time mask…

This study hypothesized band performance as a three-level hierarchical judgment with a basic level defined by specific terms, an intermediate level comprising a small number of interrelated factors, and a top level characterized by one overarching higher order. Results clearly confirmed three primary factors but suggested further study. (MJP)

Community coalitions (CCs) have labored with some difficulty to demonstrate empirical evidence of effectiveness in preventing a wide range of adolescent problem behaviors. Training and technical assistance (TA) have been identified as important elements in promoting improved functioning of CCs. A reliable, valid, and inexpensive method to assess…

Band, orchestra, and choir festival evaluations are a regular part of many secondary school music programs, and most such festivals engage adjudicators who rate each group's performance. Because music ensemble performance is complex and multi-dimensional, it does not lend itself readily to precise measurement; generally, musical performances are…

The literature of bibliometrics suggests that the results of bibliometric studies can be of practical use in libraries by providing a scientific basis for collection management decisions. Reports on the application of these studies are virtually nonexistent and a number of reasons for this are suggested. (EM)

Nonlinear least squares computer programs are extremely valuable in fitting complicated equations to experimental data. They are easy to use and free students and teachers from the tedium of trying to derive linearized forms to complicated equations. The use of these programs (available for most medium/large scale computers) is discussed. (JN)

Columbia-Greene Community College (Hudson, New York) takes a yearly 10% statistical sample of its entire circulating collection, noting the call number, acquisition year, and circulation record of each book, in order to determine the pattern of book use over the preceding 2.5 years, and to facilitate the development of an acquisition pattern that…