Seven data sets (namely, clinical data on children) were subjected to clustering by seven algorithms--the B-coefficient, Linear Typal Analysis; elementary linkage analysis, Numerical Taxonomy System, Statistical Analysis System hierarchical clustering method, Taxonomy, and Bolz's Type Analysis. The little-known B-coefficient method compared…

A method for ordering persons and items when all responses are ordinal was developed and applied to several sets of questionnaire data (from undergraduates) and one set of archeological data. The method provides a possible nonparametric treatment of data usually treated by more traditional psychometric methods. (SLD)

Discusses a 1947 study by Hyman and Sheatsley which investigated the political ignorance of the U.S. public. Examines the 1984 National Election Study, stating that a substantial segment of the U.S. public remains ignorant of political issues. Considers the dangers and implications of political ignorance (know-nothingism) in a democratic society.…

Studies of enrollment demand assume that public institutions accept all eligible applicants. If enrollments are limited by institutional constraints on the supply of places, another approach to estimating student demand behavior is needed. A model that explains the determination of enrollments in these cases is presented. (Author/MLW)

Asserts that qualitative research has great potential for use in gerontological research. Describes QUALOG, a computer-assisted, qualitative data analysis scheme using logic programming developed at Syracuse University. Reviews development of QUALOG and discusses how QUALOG was used to analyze data from a qualitative study of older adult learners.…

Colleges must have a system to safely control the ordering, delivery, transport, storage, and use of hazardous material. Information on hazardous material management is excerpted from "Managing Hazardous Waste at Educational Institutions. (MLW)

Guidelines that should be followed in reporting quantitative research are given. Common errors made in reporting research are discussed, along with specific suggestions on how to avoid the errors. (Author)

Analysis of teachers' questions, part of the ORACLE (Observation Research and Classroom Learning Evaluation) project research, is examined in detail. Scarth and Hammersley argue that the rules ORACLE uses for identifying different types of questions involve levels of ambiguity and inference that threaten reliability and validity of the study's…

A study that examined faculty attitudes toward the merit bonus plan administered in South Dakota's public colleges and universities is discussed. Results indicate limited support for the merit pay concept. (MLW)

A national survey of Hispanic financial aid recipients is reported, including student self-reports of income (theirs or their parents') and verified income figures. Findings indicate that students do not know very well how much they or their families earn, and that over half the students overestimated actual income. (Author/MLW)

Data from Bureau of Labor Statistics research projects indicate that the pace of technological advancement varies significantly from industry to industry and few employees have been laid off as a result of these changes. Implications for industry concern productivity and retraining. (CH)

In this study, Education Participation Scale data from 13,442 learners in Africa, Asia, New Zealand, Canada and the United States were combined and subjected to a cluster analysis designed to examine the extent to which Houle's typology fitted the phenomenological reality that exists within adult education participants. Results are described.…

Differences in agreement between observers and analysts of naturalistic narrative data cause problems in observation research. This paper discusses the advantages and disadvantages of several possible solutions. (Author/GDC)

Provides a classroom demonstration designed to test an astrological hypothesis and help teach introductory psychology students about research design and data interpretation. Illustrates differences between science and nonscience, the role of theory in developing and testing hypotheses, making comparisons among groups, probability and statistical…

Describes investigations involving data acquisition and analysis using microcomputers running the LOGO programing language. Provides new primitives to add to LOGO to access information from the analog to digital converter of a BBC microcomputer, giving samples of student results. (JM)