This study focused on determining the applicability of a mathematical modeling technique (goal programing) to state-level vocational education planning, using Missouri as a test case. Results indicate that such models may help the vocational planner solve problems that cannot be solved by more conventional methods. (SK)

Reviews the Davis-Bacon Act, including how its wage determinations compare to local construction wages as measured by sources other than the act's administrators; the effects of lags in the act's data-gathering process; and the savings that would result from changing the way prevailing rates are calculated. (CT)

Details the kinds of data and data sources used in "A Study of Schooling," the limitations of these data, examples of research questions explored, and the intentions of the researchers during analysis and interpretation of the data. (Author/IRT)

Ethnography has raised various issues for the educational research manager (the person responsible for directing a large-scale research and/or evaluation project). These include selection and management of ethnographers, negotiation of ethnographers' onsite roles, communication and coordination of ethnographers, and ethnographic data processing…

Details the crucial analytic distinctions to be drawn when assessing the kind of data one must deal with in ethnographic studies. Includes the necessity of separating first- and second-order concepts, a separation based primarily on whether the point of view reported is that of the informant or the researcher. (Author/IRT)

Special emphasis is given to the kinds of control that can be exercised over initial status, including the use of proxy input data. A rationale for the classification scheme is developed, based on (1) three one-shot, one cross-sectional, and two longitudinal data types and (2) two types of referencing: criterion referencing and norm referencing.…

Arts-In-Education programs are among those curricula currently being evaluated in a day when all expenditures in education are being challenged. There are different ways to evaluate programs and no one way is the right way. Focuses on the responsibility of the evaluator and on how evaluation can effectively perform a service. (Author/RK)

Presents in full the questionnaire sent to member institutions of the American Society for Engineering Education to collect data on engineering education and research for the school year 1975-76. (MLH)

Describes a school mathematics curriculum, steps for its evaluation, an explanation of the mode of implementation of each step, and discusses the ways in which cooperation and systemization enhances the evaluation. (Author/RK)

Discusses a workshop designed to explore and develop concepts and practices in the use of effective peer observation for professional development. Notes that seminar leaders established micro-goals, e.g., developing a personal and professional understanding of peer observation, examining affective and power issues, and learning objective…

Discusses the retrieval dimensions of data collection activity online and their influence on the research evaluation outcome to reinforce the link between online retrieval and bibliometrics. Topics include publication counts; citation analyses; citation databases from the Institute for Scientific Information; and data set isolation. (Author/LRW)

Discusses the components of a new methodology--consensual qualitative research (CQR)--which uses words to describe phenomena and which recognizes the importance of context. Locates CQR within the qualitative research tradition and details ways to develop a focused topic area, choose a team, attend to group dynamics, and other important issues.…

Demonstrates how perceptual mapping techniques can be used to examine campus perceptions of African American and White students at a predominantly White institution. Reports on data collection methods and influencing factors, such as familiar locations. Provides results of a survey of 411 students, detailing initial perceptions and the validity of…

Discusses advantages and limitations of six usability evaluation methods (heuristic evaluation, pluralistic walk-throughs, formal usability inspections, empirical methods, cognitive walk-throughs, and formal design analysis) and six data collection techniques (verbal reports, concurrent think-aloud method, questionnaire, video analysis,…

Students in grades three to four can collect, analyze, and represent data in order to determine which piece of playground equipment appears most popular. Students in grades five to six can investigate the geometry of playground structures using measurement and scale models. Lesson plans and reproducible worksheets are included. (CMS)