Describes a school project to choose a mascot in which students learned about sampling and polls while collecting, organizing, and analyzing data. (MKR)

Continuing education has a variety of economic impacts on the institution, campus community, and the local economy. Administrators can document their impact by recording direct contributions, amending databases, making valid estimates, collecting data from other departments/units, and reporting the data formally and informally to strengthen their…

Four traits of voluntary organizations (group size, age composition, sex composition, and educational composition) were measured with three different methods: reports from a probability sample of members, reports from a group official, and direct survey of members at an organizational meeting. In general, the three methods of gathering data…

Examines consistency of results and variables that may confound validity in child sexual abuse cases. Concludes that the ways in which information on the incidence and prevalence of child sexual abuse has been collected, analyzed, and reported have been flawed to the extent that few reliable conclusions can be made. Includes suggestions for…

Presents a method for the collection and analysis of collateral data about research subjects (i.e., measurements of events in subjects' lives that may affect outcome measures and/or lead to attrition). A six-step procedure evaluates bias resulting from subject attrition from a study using data from lost and retained subjects. (SLD)

Methods for recording information derived from focus groups are described as follows: (1) transcribe the entire discussion from a tape; (2) expand reporter's notes by using a tape; and (3) work from reporter's notes only. Three approaches are also suggested for synthesizing the discussion into an accurate text. (SLD)

This poem, with stanzas in limerick form, refers humorously to the many threats to validity posed by problems in research design, including problems of sample selection, data collection, and data analysis. (SLD)

Describes the evaluation of a new model for software evaluation that emphasizes the collection of student performance data to determine the extent to which students learn the knowledge a software package intends to teach. Discussion covers the results of two studies, evaluation criteria and methods, evaluator subjectivity in decision making,…

Educators involved in strategic planning can use environmental scanning techniques to anticipate social, economic, political, and technological changes that will affect their schools. Compared to more traditional data gathering, environmental scanning is wider in scope and more concerned with anticipating the future and studying the interaction of…

Describes study of distance educators that investigated academic procrastination in telecommunications-based distance education programs in higher education. Perceptions of the causes of academic procrastination are examined, data collection techniques on academic procrastination is discussed, strategies to reduce procrastination are described,…

Examines the creation and operation of the Office of Student Affairs Research, Information, and Systems (SARIS) at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. Describes how SARIS came into being, how to identify and prioritize research, how to collect data, how to disseminate findings, and how administrators use the data in making policy…

Observer's paradox, the basic problem facing any analyst interested in understanding how people talk to each other within naturally occurring contexts, is discussed. In observer's paradox, by recording or observing everyday interaction, one is contaminating interaction by process of observation. An extension to sociolinguistic method is suggested…

Discusses strategic planning and describes three levels of strategic planning and thinking that can occur within an organization. Differences between reactive and proactive planning are explained, and a strategic planning model is presented that includes data collecting, planning, and implementation and evaluation. (10 references) (LRW)

A New York State project created a water quality database for private drinking water supplies, using the statewide educational program to collect the data. Another goal was to develop this program so rural residents could increase their knowledge of water supply management. (Author)

Discusses aspects of Native American crime: deficiencies of crime data collection on reservations by the Bureau of Indian Affairs; 1985 crime rates for reservations compared to national rates; prevalence of alcohol-related crimes; a survey of Colville reservation (Washington) residents about crime and tribal courts; and mainstream invisibility of…