A tailored testing model employing the beta distribution, whose mean equals the difficulty of an item and whose variance is approximately equal to the sampling variance of the item difficulty, and employing conditional item difficulties, is proposed. (Author)

Since problems associated with the statistical methodology of educational research are becoming increasingly important, this paper examines a subset of problems associated with the analysis and interpretation of aggregated data. Two major questions arise: (1) if a researcher knows the level (e.g., individual, teacher/classroom, school, school…

This paper deals with two fundamental problems that are embedded in the evaluation of school practices: (1) attributing value to outcome measures, and (2) attributing outcomes to particular practices. Ways of generating evidence regarding the value of an outcome are discussed, particularly longitudinal research that clarifies the causal relations…

The author defends I.Q. tests as being beneficial to students from low-income homes against detractors who insist the tests are hopelessly biased by social class and, hence, are useless. (HMV)

Used the Kindergarten Performance Profile to analyze the relationship of classroom skills in the fall and spring of kindergarten to second-grade achievement. Results indicated kindergarten work skills were significantly related to achievement for both boys and girls. Kindergarten social skills were related to achievement scores for girls only.…

Data on referral and discharge from a short-term habilitative facility are used to illustrate the "survival analysis" of the rate at which institutionlized mentally retarded persons are released to the community and regression analysis of factors which help predict time to release. (Author)

Proposed a method of predicting the mean rating of the cooperating teacher and college supervisor of student teachers on the Teacher Observation Rating Scale. Direct observation and operationally defined personality measures predicted student teacher performance more accurately than the prediction of academic performance in education. (Author/JAC)

This study attempted to validate the Rockport Fitness Walking Test (RFWT) in college students and develop prediction equations if the RFWT proved invalid. Researchers compared measured maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max) and VO2max predicted from previous equations. The original RFWT overpredicted VO2max in college students and thus is invalid for that…

The actuarial Violence Risk Appraisal Guide (VRAG) was developed for male offenders where it has shown excellent replicability in many new forensic samples using officially recorded outcomes. Clinicians also make decisions, however, about the risk of interpersonal violence posed by nonforensic psychiatric patients of both sexes. Could an actuarial…

Mounting pressure in the policy arena to improve teacher productivity either by improving signals that predict teacher performance or through creating incentive contracts based on performance--has spurred two related questions: Are there important determinants of teacher productivity that are not captured by teacher credentials but that can be…

Since university enrollment forecasting is very important, many different methods and models have been proposed by researchers. Two new methods for enrollment forecasting are introduced: (1) the fuzzy time series model; and (2) the artificial neural networks model. Fuzzy time series has been proposed to deal with forecasting problems within a…

This paper reviews research literature and research projects of the John F. Kennedy Center for Research on Education and Human Development, on the topics of the utility of dynamic assessment for predicting learning ability, its utility for generating educationally relevant prescriptions, and factors associated with the implementation of dynamic…

The Kentucky Career Ladder Commission has funded a special project on "expected student achievement," to study the evaluation of teachers while avoiding the indefensible use of standardized student achievement tests. As proposed, the plan uses student achievement as one aspect of evaluation. The problem is in determining the degree to…

Marascuilo and Levin's (1970) notion of Type IV errors is extended, with respect to the interpretation of interactions in analysis of variance (ANOVA) designs. To help clarity what an interaction is and what it is not, in terms of the ANOVA model, the following points are made: (i) interactions should be thought of as linear contrasts involving…

Fundamental problems in the collection and use of data, in particular the need to develop and use criteria for data, are discussed. Specific examples of the use and misuse of data related to teachers and children in the public schools are presented. Two methods of data collection--manifest techniques and formal response instruments--are evaluated…