A basic methodological approach in developmental studies is the collection of longitudinal data. Behavioral data cen take at least two forms, qualitative (or discrete) and quantitative. Both types are fallible. Measurement errors can occur in quantitative data and measures of these are based on error variance. Qualitative or discrete data can…

A lack of data continues to hinder efforts to cure the problems of poverty areas. This project was designed to determine possible means to gather the needed data, so that program planners could make decisions based on facts rather than intuition. Although this is a case study of an inner-city poverty area of Philadelphia, the need for data and the…

Beginning with the 1970-1971 school year, the School Community Agents program underwent a major restructuring of its functions and purposes so that operations would more closely conform to ESEA Title I guidelines. Agent role functions have been coordinated toward raising the academic level of students, using two major innovations. These two…

The overall effectiveness of the educational experiences provided at three Middle Tennessee ABE workshops was determined. Two instruments were used to collect data from approximately 300 adult basic education personnel from all counties in Middle Tennessee; these instruments were a questionnaire and an evaluation scale. The participants' responses…

Problems encountered in large-scale educational evaluations are discussed using the evaluation of the Emergency School Aid Act as an example. This extensive article focuses primarily on methodological issues. (JKS)

The concept, focus, operation, and benefits of Florida's data-based, locally directed vocational education evaluation program is described. (BM)

A study assessed the impact of different kinds of school management techniques on the development of political attitudes among students. The hypothesis was that students in schools which encourage student participation in decision-making will reflect higher levels of political interest, trust, and confidence. It was confirmed. (Author/DB)

Results from "Campus Trends, 1987," a sample survey of colleges and universities, indicate that 75 percent are discussing assessment, half are developing assessment procedures, and the great majority expect to introduce some form of assessment in the next few years. (MLW)

Focuses on the fact that an educational treatment typically involves an intervention in a growth process. By modelling this process, expected growth for various treatment groups under control conditions may be estimated. Actual growth can be compared with projected growth to estimate the value-added by the program. A simple model is developed. (RC)

As a condition of receiving federal funding for elementary and secondary education programs, states each year provide vast amounts of data to Education. While the need for information that informs evaluation is important (particularly with the No Child Left Behind Act), Education's data gathering has heretofore presented some problems. It has been…

In recent years, researchers have argued that the shortage of highly qualified teachers in poor school districts may have less to do with attracting new teachers than with retaining them. To provide the scientific evidence that will support sound decisions about teacher induction, Mathematica is examining whether high-intensity teacher induction…

This paper provides an overview of the data collection, analysis, and reporting system of the British Columbia Ministry of Education, a system that is intended to improve the results obtained by the school system. The background of the system is described, and how it is used to assist in school improvement is outlined. The system's success to date…

This handbook offers guidance to teachers for obtaining and evaluating feedback on courses and programs of study at institutions of higher education in the United Kingdom and South Africa. Part 1 examines the purposes and functions of feedback, defines key terms, and summarizes key steps in the feedback process. Part 2 discusses the preparation…

This article reports the results of a nationwide survey of chief student personnel officers at junior and community colleges. Included are statistics regarding sex, ethnicity, age, educational background, areas of responsibility, academic rank, salary, length of service, professional affiliations, and publication records. (Author)

Three types of macro-level variables for program analysis--cultural, economic and demographic--provide a context for evaluation and offer alternative explanations for program success or failure. The problems of causality and availability of data, as well as the usefulness of macro variables in meta evaluation are discussed. (Author/CM)