A study by Mullen and Tallent-Runnels (2006) found significance in the differences between online and traditional students' reports of instructors' academic support, instructors' demands, and students' satisfaction. They also recognized that the limitation to their study was their demographic data. In an original report funded by the Alfred P.…

Rapidly declining response rates and the associated threat of nonresponse bias call into question the validity of data obtained through telephone surveys, a tool often used in evaluation. This article explores changes in nonresponse bias over time by examining three data points (1991, 1996, and 2002) from an annual household telephone survey…

Recommends that when repeated-measures Latin-square designs are used to counterbalance treatments across a procedural variable or to reduce the number of treatment combinations given to each participant, effects be analyzed statistically, and that in all uses, researchers consider alternative interpretations of the variance associated with the…

Conducted studies using two perspectives for obtaining evidence relevant to validity of autobiographical data. In Study 1, construct validity of standard psychological constructs (assertiveness, trustworthiness) obtained from autobiographies was equal to that of standard instruments designed to assess these constructs. Evidence for validity of…

Examines the construct and action validity of the use of simple checklists to assess the declarative knowledge component of adult's literacy by telephone. Finds significant relationships among knowledge when assessed either by listening (telephone) or by reading (mailed questionnaire) modality. Concludes that the telephone method may provide a…

Employed triangulation strategy for assessing family interaction, involving family members, therapist, and coders independently viewing videotapes. Found weak agreement between paired assessments within family triad, and within therapist-coder dyad. Findings suggest that methodological and/or scaling strategies designed to maximize agreement may…

In this pilot study, 14 adolescents kept diaries for 6 consecutive weeks during their pregnancies. Diary entries were analyzed for affective tone, emotional lability, and contextuality. Findings question psychometric properties of data gathered using one time, self-report measures with pregnant adolescents because of their fluctuating mood states.…

Critically reevaluates data obtained using the Spoonerisms of Laboratory Induced Predisposition (SLIP) paradigm. Discusses how the results from three studies that utilized this experimental technique differed from those in the original study. Suggests that many of the speech errors detected result from confusion rather from the elicitation of true…

Examines concerns raised about the Spoonerisms of Laboratory Induced Predisposition (SLIP) technique by Sinsabaugh and Fox. Indicates that these concerns are generally unfounded and discusses implications for optimal use of the SLIP technique. (JD)

A procedure is proposed for determining whether correlations obtained between two measures justify the assumption that the measures are identical. It is intended especially for small samples. In the example, the performance scales of two intelligence tests were administered to 32 deaf adolescents. (GDC)

Findings of a study that determined the ways in which practicing administrative course developers utilize instructional design activities in their design projects are presented in this paper. A survey was administered to 30 participants in a training and development group within a large organization and mailed to 43 other practicing instructional…

This paper examines studies of the Minnesota Institute which were interpreted as demonstrating that students with learning disabilities are not distinguishable from other low-achieving students. Results of the reexamination indicate that learning disabilities and low achievement can be clearly differentiated, even in studies indicating that little…

A year-long case study of the effects of an educational and vocational rehabilitation program in a youth training center was discussed in terms of fourteen issues which might threaten the validity of an evaluation or research project. This correctional institution housed women aged 14 to 21 who were long-term wards of the state, held on remand, or…

The lack of consensus among researchers in defining the focal construct of rurality has led to contradictory conclusions of whether or not a rural-urban performance gap exists in higher education. Compounding this problem are the changing definitions of rural and urban, even among governmental agencies. Thus, this study used two different…

In 1990, Milwaukee (Wisconsin) became the site of the first publicly funded school-choice program providing low-income parents with vouchers that could be used to send their children to secular, private schools. An evaluation of Milwaukee's school-choice experiment was conducted by a team of researchers, headed by John Witte at the University of…