Discusses the distinct purposes of principal components analysis (PCA) and exploratory factor analysis (EFA), using two data sets as examples. Reviews the use of each technique in three major communication journals: "Communication Monographs,""Human Communication Research," and "Communication Research." Finds that the…

Provides an overview of the structure of data analysis, the interrelationship between data analysis and probability, and the connection between data analysis and other components of the mathematics curriculum. Presents a possible order for topics being consistent with modern statistical practice and allows the topics to grow as students moves…

Investigates how students interpret and analyze multivariate data organized in tables and the nature of external visual displays that they tend to create and use for this purpose. Reports that: (1) students based their conclusions on only part of the data; (2) students did not use either efficient or sufficient visual representations; and (3)…

Describes efforts by Rosedale Union School District in California to align curriculum and instruction with state standards based on local student assessment data. (PKP)

Examines the elements involved in fitting a bibliometric model to empirical data, proposes a consistent methodology for applying Lotka's law, and presents the results of an empirical test of the methodology. The results are discussed in terms of the validity of Lotka's law and the suitability of the proposed methodology. (49 references) (CLB)

A mixed-method conceptual framework was developed from the literature and refined through an analysis of 57 empirical mixed-method evaluations. Five purposes for mixed-method evaluation are identified (triangulation, complementarity, development, initiation, and expansion) and analyzed using the framework of 7 design characteristics. (TJH)

Discusses the role of semiotics in instructional systems research, and examines the implications that a semiotic perspective yields for the research training provided to students in instructional systems. Research perspectives and methodologies are described, including differences in qualitative and quantitative research, and data analysis is…

Reviews application of causal modeling in family research. Discusses uses of and critics' views of causal modeling to explain reasons for controversial position of causal modeling in social sciences. Reviews requirements for effectively implementing causal modeling strategy, commenting on some attempts of family researchers to use it. Includes…

Notes that many employers use student's grade point average (GPA) as the criterion for interviewee selection, presenting problems for students who may have gotten low grades early in their college careers but higher grades later. Presents a formula for deriving an "equivalent GPA" for such students by taking into account education, experience, and…

Describes a card game designed to teach the scientific method, inductive thinking, and data analysis strategies. The objective is to guess the rule that differentiates the "legal triplets" (set of three playing cards) from the "illegal" ones. Suggestions are provided for a debriefing session in which the players reflect on…

Presents reasons for, and examples of, addressing environmental issues in secondary mathematics classrooms. (Author/MKR)

This statement of the National Institute of Mental Health Editors' Consortium discourages piecemeal publication of small amounts of data from the same study, requires study authors to inform editors about other manuscripts from the same study, and requires authors to submit copies of closely related manuscripts. (JDD)

Discusses five basic issues that teachers should address as they begin an action research project: (1) the main question to be answered; (2) relevant data; (3) specific data, and its collection method; (4) data analysis; and (5) interpretations or implications to be drawn from the data. (RS)

Presents an interview with Emerson J. Elliott, Commissioner of Education Statistics, on the subject of leadership, government service, and the relationship between research and statistics. Some principles of leadership that are distinctive to the federal bureaucracy are addressed. (GR)

Presents and discusses implications of a set of measures of information. Definitions of relevant terms, including fact, data, representation, information, and knowledge, are given; four levels of processing data are explained (i.e., data transfer, data selection, data analysis, and data reduction); and relationships between information and…