Describes how sixth-grade students in a computer and math project at the Ralph Bunche Computer Minischool in New York City collected and entered penny tossing data on spreadsheets for a unit on probability, and how they were encouraged to collect more data by setting up a World Wide Web-based form. Includes a copy of the Web form. (PEN)

Investigates whether authentic materials increase student motivation in the classroom. Findings reveal that while on-task behavior and observed motivation increased significantly when authentic materials were used, self-reported motivation only increased over the last 12 days of the study. Students reported authentic materials to be less…

Provides background information and a practical guide for including demographic information in developmental research. Describes historic demographic trends reflecting ways family and economic environments have been and continue to be transformed; presents demographic statistics to provide basis for comparison of research populations; and offers…

This article discusses how practitioners can link assessment to action when planning communication interventions for young children with disabilities. It reviews communication components and discusses strategies for collecting information that may be especially useful in the domain of communication. Strategies for turning assessment information…

Discusses the availability of college transfer data now that the National Student Clearinghouse's (NSC) Enrollment Search service has been inaugurated. Illustrates the use of this data resource through a longitudinal cohort outcomes analysis conducted at Prince George's Community College, Maryland. (Contains 12 references.) (AUTH/NB)

Calls for simplicity when presenting data on student achievement. Data should help teachers improve teaching and learning, and focus on specific goals such as determining how many students are succeeding in a subject and, within that subject, what are the areas of strength or weakness. (Contains 22 references.) (WFA)

This article suggest three broad categories of improvements to 13 data systems on juvenile victimization: (1) systems could expand to include more jurisdictions or other population segments; (2) systems need to create more specific data items; and (3) systems need to be modified to provide continuity and interrelationships among systems. (Contains…

Four activities are described which focus on consumer awareness and judgment using data collection and judgment skills involving data from footwear. Worksheets for data collection and activities at home and at school are included. A set of ratings of sneakers from "Consumer Reports" magazine is provided. (CW)

Presents a theoretical discussion of evaluation research and the need for gathering data to support the decision-making process concerned with training program performance. Guidelines for conducting evaluation research are discussed, the participants involved with successful implementation are described, and data gathering methods are explained.…

Presents guidelines teachers may use to develop a series of interdisciplinary lessons on the census for elementary students. Offers rationale for teaching about the census,and outlines social studies objectives that can be met by census activities. Provides ideas for primary and intermediate level activities. (LS)

Special educators are urged to prepare for the increasing numbers of children disabled due to maternal drug use. Encouraged are interagency coordination, increased data collection, personnel preparation, renewed emphasis on "child find" and individualized education programs, and overcoming political resistance to service expansions. (DB)

Reports on an action research project, The Teachers' Research Network (TRN), in which teachers carry out their own classroom-based research. (BB)

Crying is more common in children with handicaps than in their nonhandicapped age-peers. This paper reviews literature on the prolonged, frequent, or intense crying of handicapped babies; describes environmental considerations; outlines techniques for providing comfort; indicates observational and data-collection strategies; and suggests coping…

Discusses the potential for increasing library effectiveness through the appropriate design and utilization of research and describes fundamental research and statistical techniques. Topics examined include areas amenable to data collection, data collection methods amenable to statistical analysis, measurement techniques and levels of…

Describes how communications and information technologies are being used to increase the reach and influence of bureaucratic surveillance, creating an increasing inequality between those who provide and those who gather personal information. Argues that the current legal system is hopelessly inadequate to the challenge of controlling the…