Findings are reported from the evaluation of the Work Incentive Program which trains women welfare recipients as electronic technicians. The participants completed the training in numbers consistent with expectations, and most graduates were placed in training-related jobs. The importance of support services is noted. (TJH)

Areas of need in educational research are discussed: (1) assessment of student achievement; (2) necessary content area skills; (3) traits of outstanding teachers; (4) how to teach higher order thinking skills; (5) effective computer use; (6) skills to enhance worker productivity; (7) sound investments for education; (8) effective methods of…

Examines the nationalistic bias in the domestic public concept of U.S. foreign policy, and the educational neglect of the critical study of issues. States that critical education in which foreign policy issues are carefully analyzed is the end toward which schools should be striving. (GEA)

College assessment systems, suggest New Jersey's governor, must be built from two sides to have integrity: a common core of statewide information about college performance defined by public bodies and boards, and institutional mission-related information defined by college presidents, faculty, and trustees. (MLW)

Five major classes of information are identified as necessary in a comprehensive evaluation of an educational enterprise: (1) initial status of the learner; (2) learner performance after a period of treatment; (3) program implementation; (4) costs; and (5) supplemental information. Each class of information is presented and discussed in detail,…

Clearly stated educational objectives can help in educational evaluation. Because objectives sans assessment are little more than rhetoric, criterion-referenced tests are advocated for assessing objective-attainment. Performance standards are viewed as appropriately separable from objectives. Five guidelines regarding objectives are suggested for…

The estimation and evaluation of the effects of alternative educational or social policies is a major purpose of decision oriented, comparative evaluation studies. This paper reviews the rationale underlying the definition and interpretation of various measures of effect magnitude and examines their relevance to evalution research. (Author)

Curriculum reform in Scotland in the 1970s is described. The implications for testing and teaching are discussed. (GDC)

This article argues that little is known about assessment in the classroom by teachers. Much of what is known comes from research on testing and not from research on teaching which has been neglected. The implications of neglecting research on routine classroom assessments are discussed and corrective measures are suggested. (JAZ)

Considers whether the generalist, music specialist, or professional artist is best suited to teaching music. Argues that the music specialist teacher best fills this role and provides recommendations for improving preparation programs. (TRS)

A performance evaluation model is presented to address the need for measuring the effectiveness of educational training programs in institutions of higher learning. The model emphasizes outcomes by assessing the quality of change that occurs in individual and program performance. (Author/LMO)

This article describes the background and rationale for the Convening Process, created and evaluated by the U.S. Department of Education staff, and its relation to other efforts to increase the use of research and evaluation information. (Author/LMO)

Traces the educational attainment experiences of 245 Pacific Northwest males aged 16-31 hypothesizing a main path of educational success coinciding with Rosenbaum's tournament metaphor. Indicates that though early academic success did not ensure later success, early academic failure strongly predicted later failure, but some unsuccessful students…

Several conceptual issues in the theory of evaluation methodology are discussed and illustrated. Four objectives are to: (1) narrow the distinction between research and evaluation; (2) extend the scope of triangulation and multimethods; (3) approach the problem concretely with extended data and interpretations; (4) structure the discussion in…

Provides an overview of how one rural state (Vermont) and respective educational partners (local schoolteachers, administrators, school board, and higher education faculty members) reviewed the effective school research, various models for school improvement alternative data collection instruments, and procedures for analyzing student test data.…