This study investigated seven methods for analyzing multivariate group differences. Bonferroni t statistics, multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) followed by analysis of variance (ANOVA), and five other methods were studied using Monte Carlo methods. Methods were compared with respect to (1) experimentwise error rate; (2) power; (3) number…

Generalizability theory extends previous methods of estimating the reliability of rating instruments such that one can estimate the precision of a measurement system for differentiating among students, scales, or any other important dimension. In this study, generalizability theory is applied to faculty ratings of junior and senior dental students…

These proceedings include four articles intended to familiarize librarians with many facets of operations research and how they might be applied to their institutions. The first paper provides a brief definition of operations research. The second presentation, by Ralph Shoffner, relates, in the form of concrete examples, the questions one asks…

The effect of indebtedness (undergraduate loan burden) after college graduation on the decision to pursue a graduate degree was studied for 899 individuals from the High School and Beyond study. Level of undergraduate debt was not a significant choice determinant. Some limitations of the methodology are discussed. (SLD)

Education researchers have long been concerned with finding the appropriate method for correlational analysis of hierarchical data. In recent years, the alternative of hierarchical linear modeling (HLM) has come into extensive use. HLM users typically center some or all student-level predictors either at the grand mean or at the school means. This…

This paper demonstrates the relationship between the concept of unidimensionality and direction of an item in a multidimensional space. The basic premise is that if items that measure in the same direction are combined to form a test, that test will meet the item response theory requirements of unidimensionality. This will be true even if the…

A paradigm for the study of the diffusion of complex innovations through a society is presented in this paper; the paradigm is useful for studying sociocultural change as innovations diffuse. The model is designed to account for change within social systems rather than in individuals, although it would also be consistent with information…

The growing complexity of policy decisions in such areas as education and manpower necessitates increased research, which in turn requires an adequate data base and adequate methodology. Recognition that the variables affecting the vocational and educational choices of high school graduates are interrelated and require examination from several…

The paper identifies and addresses four methodological weaknesses common to most previous studies that have used LISREL confirmatory factor analysis to test for the factorial validity and invariance of a single measuring instrument. Specifically, the paper demonstrates the steps involved in: (1) conducting sensitivity analyses to determine a…

THIS ARTICLE OUTLINED THE CURRENT STATUS OF QUANTITATIVE METHODS AND OPERATIONS RESEARCH (OR), SKETCHED THE STRENGTHS OF TRAINING EFFORTS AND ISOLATED WEAKNESSES, AND FORMULATED WORKABLE CRITERIA FOR EVALUATING SUCCESS OF OPERATIONS RESEARCH TRAINING PROGRAMS. A SURVEY OF 105 COMPANIES REVEALED THAT PERT, INVENTORY CONTROL THEORY AND LINEAR…

The logic and methodological concepts behind the application of a quantitative methodology to the problem of effective resource utilization in the New York State suburban schools is detailed. The goal of the study was to determine the best composition of available "factors of production," measured in dollar amounts by function, that…

Modeling and data collection efforts needed to develop a test of the effectiveness of adult literacy and language training programs in increasing the earnings of trainees are reviewed. After reviewing the framework developed for the Manpower Development and Training Act and the Comprehensive Employment and Training Act (CETA) evaluations and the…

This paper discussed methods currently under study for use with multiple-response data. Besides using Bonferroni inequality methods to control type one error rate over a set of inferences involving multiple response data, a recently proposed methodology of plotting the p-values resulting from multiple significance tests was explored. Proficiency…

The Consortium on Methodology for Aggregating Data in Educational Research was designed as a collaborative effort by research methodologists from economics, education and sociology. Consortium goals were to delineate what was known about the problems associated with the analysis of data from the multiple levels (pupil, teacher/classroom, school)…

This document, produced through an ESEA Title III grant, contains seven position papers on education evaluation from the standpoints of psychology, sociology, political science, business management, school administration, and computer science. The first paper summarizes the history of educational program evaluation and reviews current theories and…