Many higher education institutions are focusing on their admissions operations. They are attempting to ensure a steady stream of enrolling students, and/or attempting to ensure the quality or composition of their entering classes. However, many colleges have not developed a comprehensive method of tracking student cohorts, measuring retention, and…

This brief review of research examines the mail questionnaire as a research tool. Major topics reported are the advantages and disadvantages of mail surveys response rates, and questionnaire construction. Among the advantages reported are ease of distribution and tabulation, the possibility of a large sample and geographic range, low cost,…

Mail, telephone, and in-group methods of surveying youth are analyzed and an example of the use of the latter method during the early phase of Project 4-Health (4-H) in California is provided. Issues in data collection are associated with cost, time, survey item comprehension, and participation rates. Project 4-Health is a 5-year tobacco…

In response to ongoing needs for improved preservice field experiences for prospective administrators, more stringent state certification standards, and technical support for practitioners, mutually beneficial alliances are being formed between universities and local schools. This paper describes part of a continuing University Council for…

This paper investigates the utility of various procedures used to locate and interview veterans as part of a longitudinal research study being conducted for the Department of Defense. The populations are comprised of below entry aptitude standards males who entered the military during the late 1960s, and potentially ineligibles who entered between…

The influence of atmospheric conditions and the day of the week on school children's behavior was investigated by undergraduates. The college students were told either that their participation in the research was compulsory and would be graded, or that their participation was voluntary and ungraded. Fifty teachers observed their pupils' behavior…

Before vocational instructional products are adopted for statewide dissemination in South Carolina, they must undergo a field test. An effective field test design incorporates collection of data about the instructional products, the students, and the teachers who use the products. The design of a control group and an experimental group compares…

The exponential increase in the availability of microcomputers will have a tremendous impact on educational research. Already, the microcomputer has provided the key to the solution of some previously overwhelming methodological problems. It has enabled investigators to conduct exciting new lines of research while creating more general…

The purposes of educational paperwork, the reasons it may be excessive, and suggestions for mitigating excessive paperwork are presented in this document. According to the author, educational paperwork has four purposes: as a substitute for onsite inspection, as a "pseudo-contract" to encourage compliance, as a due process and…

This document, one of five volumes that compose the Pupil Personnel Services Recommended Practices and Procedures Manual, is designed for school counselors and psychologists and provides recommended practices and procedures to assist pupil personnel workers in better serving students in Illinois schools. Chapter 1 presents the philosophy of pupil…

For individuals or groups interested in developing a comprehensive community plan to address the problems of teenage pregnancy and parenthood, this paper provides a process built around a community diagnostic conference, for mobilizing local decision makers. The process is divided into these six phases, which are discussed separately: (1)…

In this article the results from six states in Australia involved in a cross-national analyses of an IEA Science Project are regarded as replications, on the basis of which general statements are made about learning conditions associated with the performance in science of Australian students. (Author/RK)

Describes eight activities using a swimming pool in which elementary school children can simulate collecting data from the oceans. (JR)

This study, among the first commissioned by the Council from a non-governmental agency, the Oxford University Department of Educational Studies, concerns some aspects of the education of 16-19 year olds. (Author)

This paper focuses on evaluation questions for teacher centers, with the emphasis being that the question is as important as the answer. The questioning may be ordered in nine points: (1) For whom are the questions and answers useful? (2) What effects are desired? How should teachers change after the program? (3) How will this change be…