Provides information about the current state of examinations equivalent to A-level in France and Germany. This article is the second in a series offering a comparative view of assessment patterns so as to inform the debate about the future development of A-level. The article covers years 11, 12 and 13 of the German School System. (five references)…

This article proposes a model for the functional analysis of aggression in school-age children and youth. The model incorporates multimodal data collection and data triangulation to generate credible hypotheses regarding the functions of aggression. Key features include operational definitions of target behaviors, examination of the environmental…

Stresses the need for documenting the application and outcomes of specific adventure activities with specific client groups and documenting critical therapeutic/clinical incidents in adventure therapy programs. Overviews current trends in documentation of therapeutic adventure programs and provides recommendations from the medical and mental…

Describes how students in a geoscience course are introduced to geographic information systems (GIS), a computer-assisted system for the acquisition, storage, analysis, and display of geographic data, through a practical experience involving collecting data and inputting it into a GIS program called IDRISI. (MKR)

Advocates greater use of the Public Use Microdata Samples (PUMS), computer readable samples of individual and household records from the manuscript census schedules. An analysis of southern migration during and after World War II reveals the wealth of material in PUMS and the many ways it can be used. (MJP)

The authors of EC 610 840 reflect on their use of data from the federally developed National Education Longitudinal Study for their research. They identify specific weaknesses of their study stemming from use of this database (such as lack of severity data) as well as strengths (use of a national sample). Researchers are urged to utilize such…

Presents examples to illustrate how conditional probability statements can be used to introduce conditional probabilities, how early applications can be found in sports data, and how conditional probability can be related to data collection and presentation in two-way tables. (MKR)

A national study was conducted in New Zealand in 1988-91 to identify older people with intellectual disability. A national prevalence rate of 1.43 per 1,000 was established. The paper discusses delays in data collection, issues of identification, and the feasibility of case-finding. Challenges to procedures and research design are outlined, and…

Comparison of 19 national data collection programs found significant variability in the disability categories used. Discussion focuses on issues related to improving disability identification in large-scale data collection programs and the effects of these issues on reporting policy-relevant information. (Author/DB)

Although the same general research principles that guide other investigations should apply to research with the Rorschach Inkblot Method, the nature of the Rorschach as a relatively unstructured measure of personality functioning calls for special attention to selection of research participants, choice of variables, and data collection and…

National databases are not necessarily useful for specific school district needs. Participating sites in the High Schools that Work program have adapted several data collection procedures from national studies to serve their own information needs and assess the effectiveness of local program changes. (SK)

This article provides ideas on how to conduct alumni telephone surveys: (1) use the information gathered; (2) implement a survey; (3) develop appropriate questions; (4) test a survey instrument; (5) train interviewers; (6) collect the data; (7) analyze the results; (8) report the results; and (9) use the results to take action. (MDM)

This article provides advice on how to plan and conduct an alumni census through the mail, drawing on the experiences of Stonehill College in North Easton, Massachusetts, which undertook such a survey in 1992. It focuses on costs, information needs, questionnaire design, mailing considerations, reporting the results, and expected response rates.…

Examines ways in which elementary school teachers organize their workplace behaviors as they respond to computers in their schools. Data was collected via extensive observation and formal interviewing in nine elementary schools. Findings revealed that teachers shape the meaning of computer technology through avoidance, integration, and technical…

Explores a quality control investigation with baseballs. Students were placed in groups of three to handle specific jobs: data recorder, measurement-instrument handler, and instrument reader. Includes assessment instruments and a list of suggested investigations. (MKR)