To reflect the changing technological and social demands of the society in which it exists, education must develop and alter its goals. Critical to this process is educational research in the areas of program evaluation, environmental influences and resource availability. Federal investment in National Institute of Education (NIE) activities and…

A study was undertaken to discover the impact of strategies devised by the California Coalition for Sex Equity (CCSE) on reducing sex bias in schools. The strategies (referred to as power-based strategies) were based on identifying key decision makers in school districts and enlisting their support in helping staff identify and reduce gender bias…

Beginning with the planning stages of the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), careful attention has been given to the design of efficient probability sampling methods for the selection of class-age respondents and the assignment of test packages. With these methods, it is possible for NAEP researchers to make relatively precise…

Results of the Tennessee Basic Skills Test administered statewide to more than 64,000 grade 8 pupils in April 1980 demonstrate that achievement of pupils with kindergarten background is superior to that of non-kindergarten pupils in mathematics, spelling, language, and reading. The effect was greater for mathematics and language than for reading…

A multiple-choice test was developed to assess cognitive gains resulting from participation in the School Health Education Curriculum Project. The test was intended for seventh grade students, and was based on curricular objectives in the cognitive domain: knowledge, comprehension, application, and evaluation. Educators who were familiar with the…

This is the second of three volumes designed to cover the problems and issues of developing and managing a school assessment program. The series offers guidelines and illustrations of several special aspects of assessment programs, such as administering tests and documenting their results. This volume deals with the planning of assessment…

Five methods were evaluated for training Kansas agricultural producers for certification as Private Pesticide Applicators. The study involved 471 participants throughout the state. Comparison of pre- and post-test scores showed that teaching by video cassette caused the most improvement, followed by the traditional method using a team of…

This speech concerns the dimensions of context-oriented evaluation and begins with a discussion of the differences between measurement, research, statistical methodology, and evaluation. Decision-oriented evaluation is described as a process in which the evaluator has, as a major concern, the responsibility to determine likely decisions prior to…

Twelve institutions with experiential learning programs in higher education were selected to develop practical models that could be useful to similar institutions. Attention was to be focused on either or both of two areas of concern for experiential learning programs: the establishment of criterion standards for assessment and the financial…

Data for this report come from the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), gathered in three science assessments of 9-, 13-, and 17-year-olds, and young adults. The assessments were conducted in 1969-70, 1972-73, and 1976-77. This paper focuses on changes in science knowledge of young adults from the second assessment to the third…

Reactions to zero-based budgeting in the State of Georgia as it pertains to institutions of higher education are discussed. Major advantages and disadvantages of zero-based budgeting as reported by budget analysts and selected department heads in state agencies were examined by George Minmier and Roger Hermanson (1976). Zero-based budgeting was…

Presented is the evaluation of a K-6 collection of energy education materials developed to be used primarily with social studies and science classes. The objectives of the evaluation were two-fold: (1) to formatively evaluate the lessons to provide further direction for development and revision; and (2) to summatively evaluate the use of the…

In recent years, the controversy surrounding testing has grown, and the charge of bias is the most often cited criticism of testing and assessment. A review of the literature indicates that psychometricians and other researchers speak of bias as a property of the test or of items in the test. Conversely, test critics speak of bias as a quality or…

Approaches to data analysis used by the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) and possible alternative methodologies are reviewed. Since various components of the NAEP model affect analysis, key elements of that model, including procedures for developing objectives and exercises, drawing the sample, collecting data and reporting…

Based on the economic theory of constrained maximizing behavior, this paper constructs a model of decision-making in public schools in order to discuss the role of unions and collective bargaining in resource allocation decisions. Research findings from a study of collective bargaining in New York and Michigan school districts indicate that…