Summaries are presented of individual state practices for collecting selected universe terms and data elements for the Education Data Improvement Project of the Council of Chief State School Officers. The Project is a joint effort of the states and Federal government to improve the quality and timeliness of data collected, analyzed, and reported…

Combinations of five methods of equating test forms and two methods of selecting samples of students for equating were compared for accuracy. The two sampling methods were representative sampling from the population and matching samples on the anchor test score. The equating methods were: (1) the Tucker method; (2) the Levine method; (3) the…

Multiple matrix sampling of three subscales of the California Psychological Inventory was used to investigate the effects of four variables on error estimates of the mean (EEM) and variance (EEV). The four variables were examinee population size (600, 450, 300, 150, 100, and 75); number of subtests, (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7), hence the number of…

A complex two-stage sample selection process was used in designing the National Longitudinal Study of the High School Class of 1972. The first-stage sampling frame used in the selection of schools was stratified by the following seven variables: public vs. private control, geographic region, grade 12 enrollment, proximity to institutions of higher…

A sample of 353 young men, inducted into the Army under the category of "Project 100,000" personnel, participated in an experimental training program using the Learning 100 multimedia communication skills system in an attempt to correct academic deficiencies. The sample, which had scored below 4th grade reading level, was divided into 14…

The post mortem item-examinee sampling investigation described herein explored the feasibility of using item-examinee sampling to estimate scale values denoting degree of affect toward stimuli when measured by the method of paired-comparisons. Results indicate clearly that such scale values can be approximated satisfactorily through item-examinee…

In the United Kingdom in 1977 a national questionnaire survey was conducted by the University of Sheffield (England) under the direction of Frank Whitehead with children ages 10-14 years old to discover the kind and extent of children's voluntary reading. In 1994/95, Whitehead's study was replicated in the context of the 1990s. This report…

Tracking and two statistical methods (probability weighting and sample selection modeling) were studied as ways to minimize bias attributable to sample attrition in school-based studies. Data on student smoking from 30 middle schools illustrate that sample weighting yields the best results, with estimates superior to sample selection and much less…

Demonstrates a statistically valid method allowing students to explore randomization. Described are two examples: counting techniques for a small set of data and simulation for a large sample. (YP)

Describes advances in capture-recapture modeling, including the biologically motivated emphasis on model-based hypothesis testing and the development of models for spatially stratified populations. Discusses the severe problems associated with count statistics reflecting unknown sampling fractions. (67 references) (KR)

Statistical quality control--SQC (consisting of Statistical Process Control, Process Capability Studies, Acceptance Sampling and Design of Experiments) is a very important tool to obtain, maintain and improve the Quality level of goods and services produced by an organization. Despite its importance, and the fact that it is taught in technical and…

This article examines the relevancy of large-scale, quantitative methodologies in middle grades education research. Based on recommendations from national advocacy organizations, the need for more large-scale, quantitative research, combined with the application of more rigorous methodologies, is presented. Subsequent sections describe and discuss…

This study aimed at finding out the effects of Mastery Learning Approach (MLA) on students' achievement in Physics. The study was Quasi-experimental and Solomon Four Non-equivalent Control Group Design was used. The target population comprised of secondary school students in Kieni East Division of Nyeri District. The accessible population was Form…

There has been a remarkable improvement in access and rate of adoption of technology in higher education. Even so, reports indicate that faculty members are not integrating technology into instruction in ways that make a difference in student learning (Cuban, 2001; McCannon & Crews, 2000). To help faculty make informed decisions on student…

This booklet provides some systematic guidelines for assisting educational planners to discriminate between high-quality educational research and research that should not be relied on for decision making. The guidelines focus on educational research studies that employ either experimental or survey-research methodologies. A checklist is presented…