Data collected from surveys can result in hundreds of variables and thousands of respondents. This implies that time and energy must be devoted to (a) carefully entering the data into a database, (b) running preliminary analyses to identify any problems (e.g., missing data, potential outliers), (c) checking the reliability and validity of the…

Completion rates for massive open online classes (MOOCs) are notoriously low, but learner intent is an important factor. By studying students who drop out despite their intent to complete the MOOC, it may be possible to develop interventions to improve retention and learning outcomes. Previous research into predicting MOOC completion has focused…

As the violence in the Mexican drug war escalates, a proliferation of social media sites about drug trafficking in Mexico was followed by the murder of some of their users, and the eventual disappearance of many of those sites. Despite these events, there still exist a number of drug-dealing related social media outlets in this country with a…

Using a national database, this study uses discriminant analysis to explore the role of citizenship status in determining intent to leave for pre-tenure faculty members at 4-year research universities. Of the 3 possible responses (intend to stay, intend to leave, and undecided), 2 functions emerged. The first function differentiates between those…

Accomplished throwers conserve angular momentum when distal joints of the throwing arm reach peak velocity at a later time than their proximal neighbors. The result is an increase in velocity of the most distal segment--the hand. Past research indicates that skill level varies by the number of joints experiencing distal timing lag (time to peak…

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…

Interprets College Interest Inventory, administered to 284 students, both ways, with neither method proving superior. Suggests that under restricted conditions, discriminant function might be more appropriate for counseling purposes than configural analysis. (Author/CJ)

A WORKING MODEL CAPABLE OF RANKING INDIVIDUALS IN A RANDOM SAMPLE FROM A MULTIVARIATE POPULATION BY SOME CRITERION OF INTEREST WAS DEVELOPED. THE MULTIPLE CORRELATION COEFFICIENT OF RANKS WITH MEASURED VARIATES AS A STATISTIC IN TESTING WHETHER RANKS ARE ASSOCIATED WITH MEASUREMENTS WAS EMPLOYED AND DUBBED "QUASI-RANK MULTIPLE CORRELATION…

This introduction to the theory and application of multivariate analysis is designed to assist institutional researchers who are interested in using these techniques to analyze issues within their respective institutions. A brief introduction to multivariate theory, consisting of a rationale for multivariate statistics and an overview of selected…

With a sample of 531 children measured on 79 variables, a series of discriminant function predictions of school placement were computed to compare the results of selected alternative procedures for treating missing data in multivariate data analyses. Procedures included elimination of cases with missing data as well as methods for substituting…

A research design, decision support system, and results of a comparative analysis of enrollment and financial strength (of private institutions granting masters and doctoral degrees) are presented. Cluster analysis, discriminant analysis, multiple regression, and an interactive decision support system are used to compare the enrollment and…

STATGRAPHICS, a statistical package written for the IBM PC/XT/AT, is reviewed. In addition to superb graphics, STATGRAPHICS is unequalled in time series procedures, quality control, linear programming, and other mathematical procedures. The modules for regression analysis, categorical data analysis, and nonparametric analysis are good, but contain…