Based on a microeconometric examination of Philadelphia school district data, analyzes the impact on student achievement of pupil-specific variation in students' genetic endowment and socioeconomic status, teacher quality, nonteacher school quality, and peer group characteristics. Single copies may be purchased from Secretary, C. Elton Hinshaw,…

Using 3,355 class section means, the relationship between six predictor variables and student ratings of instruction was investigated. All linear interactions were found to be negligible although two predictor variables, expected grade and required-elective, provided large contributions to the prediction of the criterion measure. (Author/LBH)

A random sample of 460 Southern Illinois University-Carbondale students surveyed in 1973 indicates that students' self-descriptions on the Clark-Trow typology of academic orientations are moderately associated with their perceptions of the university, with nonconformist types as the most distinct academic orientation. (Author/LBH)

A program obtained random samples from known populations, some of which violated the homogeneity assumption. Student t tests and Mann-Whitney U Tests were performed on the sample value. Where the t test led to incorrect decisions, the use of Mann-Whitney U test in its place led to poorer results. (JAZ)

Male school children (N=241), all aged 16 years, and 144 men facing redundancy completed the 60 item version of the General Health Qestionnaire. Data were analysed using unrotated first principal component analysis followed by oblique rotation. The unrotated first principal component accounted for much of the variance, particularly in the school…

Taking into account an imperfectly operating labor market, this paper measures and contrasts average and marginal returns on secondary education in two adjacent East African countries (Kenya and Tanzania) with very similar economic structures. The marginal rate of return seemed somewhat lower than the average rate of return. Includes three tables…

Indicates Association for Business Communication (ABC) academic member is probably female with following characteristics: Ph.D. with publications, age 34-44, tenured collegiate business school professor, emphasizes class work, and salary over $30,000. Indicates ABC business member is a male writing consultant or manager who supervises, conducts…

Statistical measures of practical significance report the extent to which variation in the dependent variable can be explained by the independent variable. Reports of special education research sometimes discuss practicality using the estimate of statistical significance. Practical significance, however, may vary greatly among samples even though…

Focuses on problems in making machine-readable data files (MRDFs) accessible and in using them: quality of data in MRDFs themselves (social scientists' concern) and accessibility--availability of bibliographic control, quality of documentation, level of user skills (librarians' concern). Skills needed by social scientists and librarians are…

Discusses some of the myths surrounding grading on the curve. Provides a simple explanation of such statistical terms as histograms, relative frequency, normal distribution, mean, and standard deviation. Describes how to restructure the curve, including the program listing for a computer program that will assist the teacher. (TW)

Describes a statistical analysis of historical and recent presidential elections revealing enduring geographic patterns of partisan support and volatility. Discusses how they affect the Electoral College system and demand that a candidate build a geographic coalition. (CW)

Describes the application of a multimethod research approach to obtain data on students at a small college. Emphasizes the value of the multimethod/multitrait research strategy, also referred to as triangulation, or convergent methodology, where two or more methods, often qualitative and quantitative, are integrated to study the same variables.…

Presents description of the Generalized Automatic Text Organization and Retrieval system (GATOR), a database system that indexes and retrieves information from machine-readable texts such as interviews and case histories. Qualitative and quantitative analyses are discussed, and integrating GATOR with standard statistical packages is described.…

The article reviews statistical and psychometric issues associated with the severe discrepancy definition of learning disabilities used in Public Law 94-142. It is proposed that these issues should not drive the psychological theory of learning disabilities and should be replaced by constructs firmly grounded in psychological theories of learning.…

The value of statistical training for social workers is addressed, along with current levels of training and general educational principles for statistical training. Bachelor's, master's, and doctoral statistical curricula are proposed. (Author/MH)