Describes the Context Information System, a prototype retrieval system designed for online searching in an educational environment. Use of the system in Israeli high schools to encourage the development of research skills is discussed, emphasizing the use of databases for hypothesis testing and comparative analysis of data. (six references) (LRW)

Describes classroom activities and shows that statistics is a practical tool for solving real problems. Presents a histogram, a stem plot, and a box plot to compare data involving class enrollments. (YP)

Structure of the Observed Learning Outcome (SOLO) science superitems were examined from the perspectives of Guttman Scaling (deterministic) and Item Response Theory (probabilistic). Differences between the measurement bases for the two approaches, and the results for a small case study, are reported. (Author/MLW)

MicroCAT version 3.0--an integrated test development, administration, and analysis system--is reviewed in this first article of a series on testing software. A framework for comparing testing software is presented. The strength of this package lies in the development, banking, and administration of items composed of text and graphics. (SLD)

Data and statistics on the degrees conferred by U.S. pharmacy schools are presented. This report serves as an indicator of the pharmacy schools' output of pharmacy practitioners. Tables are analyzed by entry level degrees, postbaccalaureate PharmD, graduate degrees, gender, and ethnic minorities. (MLW)

Examines data from clients reported and treated for child abuse and neglect to determine the role of stress in the commission of subsequent acts of abuse and neglect. Results indicate that stressful events and seriousness of the initial abusive incident had significant effects on commission of subsequent abusive and neglectful acts. (BB)

Suggests that recent social changes and trends make it imperative to include demographics of all kinds in research on child development. Proposes guidelines to help child development researchers procure demographic information from their study population. Provides specific questions that may help researchers devise demographic indicators, and…

Reviews research on uses of computer sound and suggests how sound might be used effectively by instructional and interface designers. Topics include principles of interface design; the perception of sound; earcons, both symbolic and iconic; sound in data analysis; sound in virtual environments; and guidelines for using sound. (70 references) (LRW)

An intensive analysis of a single counseling session conducted by Fritz Perls was carried out to examine relationships among client experiencing level, client strength of feeling, counselor interventions, and client good moments. The possibility that positive therapeutic outcome is related to the accretion of good moments is discussed. (JBJ)

Describes the data collection and interpretation project of primary grade students involving predicting, graphing, estimating, measuring, number problem construction, problem solving, and probability. (MKR)

Two experiments examined fifth-grade students' reasoning about data modeling: one involved development of hypermedia documents, the other, use of a simple randomization distribution to test students' hypotheses. Found that data construction and analysis provide an opportunity to involve students in the important enterprise of mathematical…

The New Standards Project has designed research to describe educational standards in other countries using an ethnographic case-study approach. Data review and analysis are organized by fundamental questions, the answers to which constitute a contextualized account of what students are expected to know and be able to do. (Author/SLD)

Surveys the field and literature of geographic information systems (GIS) and spatial data representation as it relates to GIS. Highlights include GIS terms, data types, and operations; vector representations and raster, or grid, representations; spatial indexing; elevation data representations; large spatial databases; and problem areas and future…

Strategies are presented for analyzing longitudinal research designs with many waves of data using hierarchical linear modeling. The approach defines well-focused parameters that yield meaningful effect size estimates and significance tests. It is illustrated with data from the Boys Town Follow-Up Study. (SLD)

Investigates whether information services markets are measurable so that results are comparable between countries and over different periods of time. Topics include definitions of information services; statistical criteria for data collection; survey methodologies; guidelines for data analyses; and disseminating survey results. (LRW)