Best Liked/Least Liked is a technique for collecting evaluation information. The technique is composed of stages (data collection, data analysis, and data interpretation) that are characterized by ease of use. Its use can be narrowly or broadly focused, and it can be used for achievement testing or affective measurement. (Author/PN)

Issues and considerations likely to be confronted in designing and constructing longitudinal institutional databases or studies are examined, including operational definitions of retention and attrition. The intent is to reduce current limitations in dropout research. (MSE)

Presents the results of a study on data collection instruments, specifically questionnaires, used by libraries in evaluating resource use and institutional effectiveness. A number of causes for inconsistent survey results are identified and problems with imprecision in survey question terminology are discussed. (JL)

Describes the use of sample surveys in student affairs data collection. Discusses guidelines for planning, designing, and conducting research projects which employ survey methodology. Considers survey methodology, wording of questions, survey format, and sample size. (RC)

In a simulated adversary-advocacy evaluation of a computer-assisted school guidance program, the evaluation audience's reaction to different forms of data, the order of argument presentations, and the rated attitude of the evaluator are shown to influence audience agreement with evaluation recommendations. (CM)

Describes four types of decisions concerning admissions policies for allied health programs: (1) refining applicant evaluation criteria; (2) identifying information sources whose data can be quantified; (3) transforming these data into measurable form; and (4) conducting evaluation of admission criteria. (Author/CT)

The ethnographer should be part historian, part psychologist, part sociologist, part anthropologist, and must apply rigorous and consistent rules and procedure to the various steps in his/her research in order to arrive at reliable conclusions. An ethnographic observational study of administrative behavior of eight school superintendents provides…

Four types of values education approaches for use in teaching in high school biology classes are described. The approaches include moral development, values clarification, action learning, and analysis. Inculcation is mentioned but not discussed because the author feels that it does little to help develop values. (SA)

Describes a process for evaluating career education activities. Discusses the selection of the evaluation sample, selection and development of instruments, data reduction and analysis, comparison standards, and preparation of an evaluation handbook. (JOW)

Discusses the use of self-reports written by informants as a complement to observation by anthropologists. Describes a study that used observation to validate self-reported time budgets, in which data gathered in those two ways were found to support usage of the time budget for particular purposes. (Author)

Discusses research conducted to validate six new or completely revised tests in the Ohio vocational achievement testing program. Results showed a high degree of internal consistency at the total test level and at the subtest level as well. (CT)

Describes a study of vocational agriculture programs in the southern United States to determine the impact these programs have on students. Data were analyzed to determine if categories of responses could be identified and if a significant relationship existed between these categories and the demographic variables. (CT)

The chronology and effects of a 1978 blizzard on Indianapolis' air pollution levels (ozone, sulfur dioxide, carbon monoxide) are used as a case study for geography classes. Photographs, graphs, and maps are provided as examples of meteorological data collection and interpretation. (AM)

This theoretical analysis of historical data collected from oral accounts points out factors (memory, recall, sampling, interview structure, personal interpretation) which make it difficult for the historian to generalize from individual interviews. (AM)

Examines the methodology of ethnographic studies, suggesting reasons why it may be the design choice for many language, composition, literature, and reading studies. Discusses some of the pitfalls inherent in more intuitive, observational research, suggesting procedures to guard against them. (HOD)