Practicality is the hallmark of this physical education research manual. It focuses on applications with which investigators in this field typically are concerned; numerous examples clarify these points. All phases of research are covered, beginning with writing mechanics and style and a blueprint of the chapters that comprise the creditable…

Data about teachers and about the content and methods of teaching are most critical to understanding the conditions of education. Spotty evidence about two recent trends have produced a waft of legislation concerning teacher education, certification, and compensation across the United States. The first consists of data suggesting that the academic…

The following organizations and agencies sent their suggestions and comments on the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) Elementary/Secondary Education Data Redesign Project: American Association for Counseling and Development, American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education, American Library Association, Indiana University,…

This book presents a compilation of 28 issues of the newsletter, "How To Evaluate Education Programs" from the first one published in September 1977 through the issue of December 1979 on the topic of evaluating educational programs. The subject is covered in the following chapters: (1) How to Choose a Test; (2) How to Rate and Compare…

This report considers the research conducted in Finland on photocopying and how it relates to teaching methods, and attempts to develop a theoretical basis for evaluating such research. In the first part of the report, it is argued that studies of copying need to target four separate areas of concern--knowledge, attitudes, activity (quantitative…

A discussion of the use of generative phonology in the speech clinic, especially with children, begins with an outline of some constructs of generative phonology. First, some notes on phonetic notation and definitions of terms used in nongenerative phonology that have special meanings in this field are presented. Then a discussion of distinctive…

Aimed at persons planning and implementing strategies for documenting school improvements, this paper is comprised of four sections. The first section distinguishes between national problems in education and federal issues in education (a distinction considered necessary for planning evaluations and establishing priorities for federally sponsored…

Recently, to encourage secondary analysis, the federal government has begun to arrange for public policy data to be documented, archived and released to the public. The purpose of this document is to provide government project officers with guidelines for archiving government-sponsored data files. The guidelines represent a model for…

This paper briefly explains the possible two-mode techniques of factor analysis and discusses in more detail one two-mode technique, the Q-technique, which may be useful when the researcher is interested in obtaining information about "types" of individuals with regard to certain variables. A concrete heuristic example is used to…

To meet growing demands for collecting and using quality information for decision-making, many U.S. school districts are developing database systems that increase their responsiveness to schools and communities. This paper describes how Long Beach Unified School District (California) designed and implemented a Database Management Information…

This document provides information on the Data on Vocational Education (DOVE) plan, which has provided the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) with a framework on which a viable data collection and dissemination program is being constructed for vocational education. A section on the status of DOVE discusses the attainment of the…

Since the telephone interview is often used as a method in survey research, a study was conducted to determine whether use of random digit dialing and sampling by surnames resulted in selection of two different samples from the same ethnic population. A random digit dialing technique was used to conduct interviews with 1,076 Texas residents over…

In order for teacher centers to develop programs and activities appropriate to the needs of their target populations, a detailed and accurate representation, as well as ongoing evaluation of the center operation must be maintained. A data base must be established that encompasses the accurate portrayal of daily operations in order to facilitate…

The nominal group technique (NGT), a needs assessment methodology that can be effective in many situations related to marketing education, is used to identify and collect information in a small group setting. It is a special purpose group process appropriate for identifying elements of a problem situation, identifying elements of a solution…

The Colorado Department of Education undertook the establishment of an educational quality database that would contain the information necessary for measuring the effects of various efforts at educational improvement. Five major planning concerns had to be resolved before the database itself could be established. First, it was determined that…