In an effort to determine differences between students who respond to surveys and those who do not, New Mexico State University at Alamogordo (NMSU-A) undertook a study of students in fall 1992. Students were asked to complete an 18-item questionnaire while waiting in lines during registration. The 1,618 out of 2,114 (76.5%) students who completed…

This report presents revenue and expenditure data on the nation's accredited institutions of higher education over the 9-year period from fiscal year (FY) 1983 through FY 1991. Data are from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System "Finance" surveys from FY 1987 through FY 1991 and the Higher Education General Information…

Addressed to institutional researchers, this report from California's Chabot College presents information on National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) data sets. Included is a discussion on how these data sets can be used to create peer groups of U.S. colleges, and to produce statistics on major student variables for each of these groups.…

This document contains four papers from a symposium on research issues in human resource development (HRD). "Data for HRD Research and the 1997 Human Performance Practices Survey" (Laurie J. Bassi, George S. Benson), describes two research projects undertaken by American Society for Training and Development (ASTD): publication of the…

Although gender differences are fairly consistent when men and women report their general confidence, much less is known about the existence of such differences when subjects are asked to assess the degree of confidence they have in their ability to answer any particular test or exam question. The objective of this research was to investigate…

In this paper a quadratic curve equating method for different test forms under a random-group data-collection design is proposed. Procedures for implementing this method and related issues are described and discussed. The quadratic-curve method was evaluated with real test data (from two 30-item subtests for a professional licensure examination…

The terms, definitions, and procedures used by states in obtaining student counts are investigated as part of the Education Data Improvement Project of the Council of Chief State School Officers. The Project describes state collection of data elements currently contained in the common core of data of the National Center for Education Statistics.…

This study examined efficacy of different story collection procedures with normally developing (N=10) and language disordered (N=6) preschool children. Factor analyses probed such possible interfering factors as home vs. school environments, familiarity of the story requester, coaxing cues, stimulus structure, and presence of such props as dolls…

This paper systematically reports differences in the cost of living among different parts of the United States, as well as among different rural and urban counties in the state of Illinois. A systematic procedure for estimating these differences based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics data for selected localities was developed by McMahon and…

The preparation and use of data needed to make objective, useful comparisons in higher education are considered. The needs for comparative data in higher education, including demands for accountability and strategic planning, are reviewed. In addition, data-related problems are considered: problems of narrowness, misrepresentation, sameness,…

During the 1979-80 academic year, a study was conducted to determine the beliefs and attitudes held by individuals in four groups (students, parents, teachers, and administrators) directly associated with the student activity program in a small Mississippi high school using ethnographic techniques. Ethnographic techniques involve the direct…

Proceedings of a study group that considered the utility of the Higher Education General Information Survey (HEGIS) finance data for institutional and higher educational sector comparisons are presented, as are issue papers and descriptive information. The study group of representatives from higher education institutions and organizations outlined…

The results of an evaluation study made to determine how well South Dakota has met vocational-technical education objectives and goals are provided. The three sections of the report are as follows: Section I: Presentation, Analysis, Interpretation of Data and Evaluation of Outcome Objectives (15 tables and 4 charts); Section II: Part A.…

The relative precision of four methods of estimating missing data in principal components analysis was investigated. Artificial data with known characteristics, obtained from Cattell's "Plasmode: 30-10-4-2," was used with one third of the data on half of the variables being systematically eliminated. The four methods of missing data estimation…

The purpose of this study was to prepare a descriptive analysis of the relationship existing between selected Nebraska school administrators and vocational education. Following a review of literature, 51 superintendents and 51 principals from three size categories of schools were randomly selected and personal and professional information was…