The article proposes that the key to tracking and evaluating the academic progress of college students, particularly at complex institutions, is development of a longitudinal tracking system with flexibility to support a diverse community of users and applications. Considerations for efficient maintenance and effective use of such a system are…

In the 1960s, mental health and educational research on minority populations suffered from ill defined studies which lacked empirical quality and validity. As a result, numerous misinterpretations, false assumptions, and misleading stereotypes have been perpetuated in the literature. Generalization of results from small, non-random samples, and…

Expanding on the original "Miscue Inventory," this book examines various miscue analysis procedures and discusses how they provide teachers with effective methods for understanding and measuring students' reading processes. The chapters are divided into three parts, focusing on miscue analysis and the reading process, miscue analysis…

In April of 1982, the German Federal Armed Forces initiated the first empirical pilot project in the area of computerized adaptive testing (CAT). The configuration of hardware, psychological section, and physiological section is discussed, as well as two current problems (data transfer from the TEST 2000 microcomputer to a large sized computer for…

This study examined the characteristics of school systems and programs that have been successfully involved in change over the past 10 years and that are continuing to update services through external sources. Four models of innovation are outlined: the traditional research-development and utilization (RDU) model, the Linkage Model (Havelock…

This book contains four papers commissioned by the National Center on Employment Policy to review programs conducted by the Office of Policy, Evaluation, and Research in the Labor Department's Employment and Training Administration. The Council's policy statement entitled "Appraising Employment and Training Research" appears first. In…

Two evaluation projects conducted for the Minnesota Agricultural Extension Service are examined from a user-focused perspective: (1) a needs assessment of large scale commercial farmers for program development by the Office of Special Programs; and (2) a review of the extension programs in Nicollet County. Each incorporated the focus group method…

This document describes a partnership program for administrator training that the Davis (Utah) School District has established with the College of Education at Utah State University. This program was initiated because of the district's anticipated need for a large number of new administrators, coupled with the availability of numerous top teachers…

A nationwide mail survey was conducted of 400 randomly-selected schools in the 50 states to investigate the decisions made by schools in implementing microcomputer instruction and the procedural planning systems developed by schools to integrate microcomputer instruction into the program. An introduction, statement and explanation of the problem,…

Three papers present views on women in technology programs and occupations, and on Corning Community College's (CCC's) program to encourage women to enter technological fields in which they have been historically underrepresented. First, Edward F. Herman presents the historical background to the development of CCC's Women in Technology program,…

Presents case study on personal computer teleconferencing to compare its cost effectiveness with that of on-site training. A model is described that uses a checklist for decision making in three areas: (1) initial considerations, (2) planning considerations, i.e., design elements, and (3) technical considerations, i.e., review and selection…

Perspectives are provided to help evaluators of health promotion programs. Eight papers present critical issues in such evaluations, including: (1) conceptual themes of program theory and context; (2) topics related to measurement, data analysis, and research design; and (3) reports of evaluation studies. (SLD)

This article reviews the current research-based knowledge on nonpharmacological interventions for students with attention deficit disorder and highlights findings related to behavior management, academic instruction, home and school collaboration, and comprehensive programing. A lack of research is noted on interventions concerning daily classroom…

This article presents guidelines for "beginning" career researchers on developing a research program, focusing on topic choice, research methodology quality, coauthoring, funding, and selection of journal for publication. Career models in special education research are described, the importance of careful interpretation of research data is…

Discusses the growth of the assessment movement, reviews the different measures of student performance being requested by state agencies, and describes institutional responses to state mandates. Offers guidelines for implementing an effective assessment program. (DMM)