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…

Reports, summaries, and recommendations are presented on the following research studies: (1) Beginning Teacher Studies; (2) Instructional Skills for Teaching Higher Order Thinking; (3) Development of the Conferential Observation Instrument; (4) Predictive Validity Studies Conducted to Test the Relationship Between Teacher Performance as Measured…

Various methods have been suggested for the analysis of data collected in research settings where random assignment of subjects to groups has not occurred. For the purposes of this paper the set of allowable nonrandomized designs is made up of those research designs where data are collected for one or more groups of subjects at two or more time…

Designed to assist persons who need to compare and use information obtained under various classification systems, this volume links the Department of Education vocational program categories in the new Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) to the occupations in the Dictionary of Occupational Titles (DOT), the Standard Occupational…

This paper attempts to provide evaluators, administrators, and policy makers with the advantages of and methodology of merging formative and summative data to enhance summative evaluations. It draws on RMC Research Corporation's 1980-81 California Statewide Evaluation of Migrant Education. The concern that evaluations typically fail to obtain the…

This handbook was developed for use by individuals with limited experience in performing good survey-based research. The essential procedures in the preparation of a survey are outlined and discussed. The method of survey construction proposed consists of several tasks: (1) survey objectives and research questions are specified; (2) literature is…

One popular method of generating large quantities of social science research data is telephone research. The interviewer's communication skill is a critical factor in determining the reliability and validity of such research. The interviewer should have a clear, pleasant, and understandable voice; be able to read through the questions fluently;…

Surveys, content analyses, and laboratory experiment/judgment task strategies continue to be the dominant research methods used in mass communication research. Some researchers, however, are advocating method triangulation--the use of at least two and as many as five methods within the same study. A manual and computer search of several databases…

Described in this newsletter issue are research activities involving the development in Sweden of an indicator model to provide a holistic and comprehensive depiction of schools. Intended for use in continuous follow-up and evaluation activities, the model attempts to mirror the situation in schools by means of existing information expressed as…

The field manual for a series of coordinated studies of the spontaneous acquisition of a second language by adult immigrant workers provides a theoretical and practical framework for the entire project and a source of information about it for other researchers. Chapters 1 and 2 describe the project's objectives and organization. Chapter 3 reviews…

In this elementary science activity students construct a simple measuring device and gain experience in collecting and recording data, communicating data with graphs, and making predictions from their graphed data. (JR)

The present study was designed to test the efficacy of two basic strategies which might be employed to increase the probability that a potential voter will act in accordance with his presumed belief that it is right, good, or desirable to exercise his franchise. (Author)