The primary objective of this study was to find the smallest sample size for which equating based on a random groups design could be expected to result in less overall equating error than had no equating been conducted. Mean, linear, and equipercentile equating methods were considered. Some of the analyses presented in this paper assumed that the…

The aim of this paper is to explore methods for evaluating the effects of randomized interventions in a longitudinal design. The focus is on methods for modeling the possibly nonlinear relationship between treatment effect and baseline and evaluating the treatment effect taking this nonlinear relationship into account. A control/treatment growth…

Using a new twins sample, presents new estimates of schooling returns and "ability" bias and tests that bias's significance. Ability bias may exist even if ability's genetically-endowed component does not affect schooling decisions directly when correlated with other family characteristics (like income) that do affect schooling. (19…

The Longitudinal Surveys of Australian Youth (LSAY) is a research program that tracks young people as they move from school into further study, work and other destinations. It uses large, nationally representative samples of young people to collect information about education and training, work, and social development. It includes surveys…

This technical report describes the development of reading comprehension assessments designed for use as progress monitoring measures appropriate for 2nd Grade students. The creation, piloting, and technical adequacy of the measures are presented. The following are appended: (1) Item Specifications for MC [Multiple Choice] Comprehension - Passage…

This technical report describes the development and piloting of reading comprehension measures developed for use by fifth-grade students as part of an online progress monitoring assessment system, http://easycbm.com. Each comprehension measure is comprised of an original work of narrative fiction approximately 1500 words in length followed by 20…

School principals have complex jobs. To better understand the work lives of principals, this study uses observational time-use data for all high school principals in Miami-Dade County Public Schools. This paper examines the relationship between the time principals spent on different types of activities and school outcomes including student…

Due to inaccuracies in method, public libraries consistently undermeasure their reference transactions. This article chronicles the process of developing ways to systematize the count. Results of a literature survey, merits of various sample sizes, sample selection, and calculations are all discussed. Appendices include a list of categories of…

It is a widely held belief that anchor tests should be miniature versions (i.e., minitests), with respect to content and statistical characteristics of the tests being equated. This paper examines the foundations for this belief. It examines the requirement of statistical representativeness of anchor tests that are content representative. The…

The purposes of this study were to introduce the iterative purification procedure and to compare this with the two-step purification procedure, to compare false positive error rates and the power of five observed score approaches and to identify factors affecting power and false positive rates in each method. This study used 2,400 data sets that…

Reexamines Ashenfelter and Krueger's estimates of schooling returns (13%), using three additional years of the same twins survey. Finds a 10% return per year of schooling completed. The within-twin regression estimate of schooling's effect in the log wage is smaller than the cross-sectional estimate. (14 references) (MLH)

Community colleges have been criticized for lowering the educational aspirations of their students. This paper suggests that this contention is subject to serious measurement errors. Evidence is presented from several surveys.

Two techniques for determining a straight line fit to data are compared. This article reviews two simple techniques for fitting a straight line to a set of data, namely the method of averages and the method of least squares. These methods are compared by showing the results of a simple analysis, together with a number of tests based on randomized…

The purpose of this simulation was to assess the improvements in estimates of standard errors that could be expected if students participating in NAEP were pre-assigned to test booklets that were adapted to their level of performance based on their state assessment scores. Students in extreme quartiles would receive one regular NAEP block and…

Procedures are described for studying the reliability of decisions based on specific passing scores with tests made up of discrete items and designed to measure continuous rather than categorical traits. These procedures are based on the estimation of the joint distribution of true scores and observed scores. (CTM)