Analyzes the logical basis of testing developmental order hypotheses with categorical measures. Argues that depending on whether saltatory or continuous developmental changes are being assessed, the observed relationship between categorical measures yields different types of information about developmental ordering. Maintains that when change is…

Compares several "top-down" algorithms for identifying mirrored hosts on the Web. The algorithms operate on the basis of URL strings and linkage data: the type of information about Web pages easily available from Web proxies and crawlers. Results reveal that the best approach is a combination of five algorithms: on test data this…

Reports on a study designed to develop and validate a framework for characterizing middle school students' thinking across four processes: describing data, organizing and reducing data, representing data, and analyzing and interpreting data. Results indicate that students progress through four levels of thinking within each statistical process.…

Evaluates the psychometric properties of two alternative Jungian personality measures, the Singer-Loomis Type Deployment Inventory and the Personal Preferences Self-Description Questionnaire. Evidence suggests that both the measures of Jungian constructs yielded reasonably reliable and valid scores. Asserts that both measures have potential…

Addresses the relationship in second language acquisition (SLA) research between theory and data. Suggests a potential problem for the field of SLA; a lessening rigor in data analysis where theory moves more into focus. Documents how the problem manifests itself in a specific area of research in SLA--syntax and morphology--then discusses possible…

Figures published by the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) indicate that colleges and universities are engaging in longer capital campaigns while relying on fewer donors. The report identifies 18 colleges that currently fail to comply with CASE standards. A chart summarizes results of fund-raising campaigns at 138 U.S.…

Proposes methods to utilize image primitives to support term assignment for image classification. Proposes to release code for image analysis in a common tool set for other researchers to use. Of particular focus is the expansion of work by researchers in image indexing to include image content-based feature extraction capabilities in their work.…

Longitudinal data about individual students and groups of students can be used to track their progress in ways that hold district-level administrators, school principals, and teachers responsible for what's happening in schools. The key is to examine data that show how well individual students perform in specific classrooms in specific schools.…

Reports on a study of personal characteristics and attitudes of 155 first-time superintendents as compared with experienced superintendents, based on analysis of national data from 10-year study of the superintendency. Profile of first-year superintendents was nearly identical to that of experienced ones, except for a higher percentage of female…

Communication and collaboration with campus constituencies is essential for information literacy (IL) program planning and development. Librarians at Weber State University (WSU) have gathered and used selected assessment data to inform campus partners about the IL program and build their involvement in developing students' IL skills. A student…

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to describe the processes of care, organizational attributes, cost of care, staffing level, and staff mix in a sample of Missouri homes with good, average, and poor resident outcomes. Design and Methods: A three-group exploratory study design was used, with 92 nursing homes randomly selected from all nursing…

Several hierarchical classes models can be considered for the modeling of three-way three-mode binary data, including the INDCLAS model (Leenen, Van Mechelen, De Boeck, and Rosenberg, 1999), the Tucker3-HICLAS model (Ceulemans,VanMechelen, and Leenen, 2003), the Tucker2-HICLAS model (Ceulemans and Van Mechelen, 2004), and the Tucker1-HICLAS model…

The data defined in this article encompasses a range of topics, including data definitions, data management systems, infrastructure (both local and statewide), and the actual use of data to make decisions on either the administrative or instructional side. This emphasis on data has grown as technology has made the access and use of data easier.…

Despite its widespread use in evaluation data analysis, statistical testing has come under persistent criticism resulting in calls for its rethinking, and even possible elimination (Carver, 1978, 1993). Saxon and Boylan issue a call "to strengthen developmental education research and to make it more accessible" (2003, p. 2). Among the types of…

How has technology affected student achievement? There is a never-ending and misunderstood debate regarding technology integration that revolves around two main factors. First, the definition of student achievement has changed. Information technology literacy is now part of the skill set students will need to be successful, bringing with it a…