Textual properties of documents were analyzed to identify predictive variables for various document qualities by means of statistical and linguistic methods. A collection of 1000 documents was created, and each document was judged in terms of nine document qualities (accuracy, reliability, objectivity, depth, author/producer credibility,…

Describes a study that examined the usefulness of undergraduate and graduate grade point averages, Graduate Record Examination general test scores, and years since graduation as predictors of professional salaries for librarians. Correlations were found for men and persons employed in some types of libraries. Suggestions for further research are…

Challenges the prevailing view that educational effectiveness in Third World countries is related to school-based factors rather than student background variables. Uses a study of academic achievement in 32 Zimbabwean schools to illustrate the use of a multilevel regression model for school effectiveness research. Contains 42 references. (SV)

Using an infinite item test framework, it is argued that the usual assumption of local independence should be replaced by a weaker assumption--essential independence. The usual assumption of unidimensionality is replaced by a weaker and more appropriate statistically testable assumption of essential unidimensionality. (TJH)

Simulations were used to compare the moderator variable detection capabilities of moderated multiple regression (MMR) and errors-in-variables regression (EIVR). Findings show that EIVR estimates are superior for large samples, but that MMR is better when reliabilities or sample sizes are low. (SLD)

Describes how the State University of New York, using large databases and regression techniques, has developed several coordinated, comprehensive efforts to evaluate and project current and future enrollments. One requires decomposition of the student population into mutually exclusive subgroups. The other, superior, approach uses logistic…

Evaluated systematic empirical evidence of how postsecondary institutions support and promote the use of student assessment information in academic decision making using linear regression techniques. Found that student assessment data has only a marginal influence on academic decision making, with slightly more influence on educationally related…

Gender was investigated along with other academic variables as predictors of success in entry-level freshman courses from liberal arts mathematics through calculus. The female students were more successful than the male students in all the courses, but gender became less significant as the sophistication level of the course increased. (Contains 16…

Academic motivation as a predictor of academic performance for college athletes has been debated in the literature. This study examined the utility of academic and athletic motivation as a key variable in predicting academic performance among 211 college athletes at a Division I institution in the Midwest. After controlling for background…

The authors conducted a Monte Carlo simulation of 4 test statistics or comparing dependent correlations with no variables in common. Empirical Type 1 error rates and power estimates were determined for K. Pearson and L. N. G. Filon's (1898) z, O. J. Dunn and V. A. Clark's (1969) z, J. H. Steiger's (1980) original modification of Dunn and Clark's…

Formulas for the asymptotic biases of the parameter estimates in structural equation models are provided in the case of the Wishart maximum likelihood estimation for normally and nonnormally distributed variables. When multivariate normality is satisfied, considerable simplification is obtained for the models of unstandardized variables. Formulas…

Research has shown that children repeat high-probability phoneme sequences more accurately than low-probability ones. This effect attenuates with age, and its decrease is predicted by developmental changes in the size of the lexicon (J. Edwards, M. E. Beckman, & B. Munson, 2004; B. Munson, 2001; B. Munson, J. Edwards, & M. Beckman, 2005). This…

Objective: To predict psychiatric hospital length of stay (LOS) for a sample of Illinois Department of Children and Family Services wards across 4 fiscal years. Method: A prospective design was implemented using the Children's Severity of Psychiatric Illness scale, a reliable and valid measure of psychiatric severity, risk factors, youth…

The transition into high school is a critical point in the educational pipeline, and ninth-grade can be characterized as one of its leakiest junctures. This policy brief examines how some states and districts are currently easing the transition into high school for students. It focuses on five key challenges that states, districts and schools…

Context: Uneven distribution of physicians across geographic areas of the United States remains a significant problem that may have implications for health. Purpose: To develop a statistical model of physician distribution in Illinois counties that predicts where specialists and family physicians practice, and to suggest policy strategies for…