Two relatively new tools for analysis of data compiled in evaluation studies are presented. The National Test-Equating Study in Reading, known as the Anchor Test Study, produced tables of score-correspondence between the eight reading comprehension and vocabulary tests most widely used in the United States. Two types of tables from this report…

There are two distinct but related purposes for carrying out a "discriminant analysis": (1) discrimination, and (2) classification. The primary objective of this paper was to review the outputs of selected computer programs often used to carry out a "discriminant analysis" with respect to these two purposes. Information provided by the programs on…

An investigation of techniques used to maximize response rates was the purpose of this study. Variables included perceived threat of questionnaire, questionnaire length, cover letter approach, follow-up correspondence, stamped/unstamped return envelope, and anonymity. The sample comprised 4,608 college faculty. Three analyses of response rates…

This paper presents a plan for obtaining statistical information for justifying budget requests, planning staffing, and assessing service without placing heavy burdens on the staff. (Author/JAB)

The National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) Validity Studies Panel undertook a systematic analysis to consider the domain of validity threats to NAEP and to identify the most urgent research priorities. A framework of six broad categories was developed: (1) the constructs measured within each of NAEP's subject domains; (2) the manner in…

This study attempts to assess the effects of ethnicity on educational achievement. (Author)

The present paper reported on a study designed to test two null hypothesis, first, the prediction that there was no difference in attitudes held by heterosexually and homosexually oriented males, second, there would be no difference in attitudes held by covert and overt male homosexuals. (Author/RK)

To test the use of Bayes's theorem to adjust for nonresponse bias, 600 hospitals were used in a simulated sample survey. On the basis of known information on five variables, Bayes's formula correctly predicted the status of 92 of the 100 "nonrespondents" relative to a sixth variable. (Author/BW)

Describes and assesses missing data methods currently used to analyze data from matrix sampling designs implemented by the National Assessment of Educational Progress. Several improved methods are developed, and these models are evaluated using an EM algorithm to obtain maximum likelihood estimates followed by multiple imputation of complete data…

Sources of population heterogeneity may or may not be observed. If the sources of heterogeneity are observed (e.g., gender), the sample can be split into groups and the data analyzed with methods for multiple groups. If the sources of population heterogeneity are unobserved, the data can be analyzed with latent class models. Factor mixture models…

This study introduces an order-constrained Bayes inference framework useful for analyzing data containing dichotomous scored item responses, under the assumptions of either the monotone homogeneity model or the double monotonicity model of nonparametric item response theory (NIRT). The framework involves the implementation of Gibbs sampling to…

Data from international comparative studies in education are generally derived from complex, multi-stage sample designs and rotated assessments. Consequently, care must be taken not only in estimating variance components but also in interpreting them. Target population definitions, the nature of the sampling stages and their sampling units, and…

The research literature on screening and brief intervention (SBI) for unhealthy alcohol use is large and diverse. More than 50 clinical trials and 9 systematic reviews have been published on SBI in a range of healthcare settings, and via a variety of delivery approaches, in general practice, hospital wards, emergency departments, addiction…

Model-based methods for estimating the population mean in stratified clustered sampling are described. The importance of adjusting the weights is assessed by an approach considering the sampling variation of the adjusted weights and its (variance) components. The resulting estimators are more efficient than the jackknife estimators for a variety…

The relation in schoolchildren of duty and efficacy to trust is the principal topic of this study. (Author/RK)