The questions of whether a number of equality and wealth neutrality measures agree, within the respective groups, when used to assess one state over time or to compare a number of states at one point in time are addressed. The basic analyses in this study show that for four assessments (equality in a state over time, wealth neutrality in a state…

Examined is the critical issue of the quality of teaching and learning in postsecondary education. Written by nine experts in the evaluation of instruction, the book asks the questions: Should university teachers be evaluated?; If so, with what goals in mind and by what methods should they be judged?; What are the effects of teacher evaluation on…

This paper suggests ways in which manifest, physical attributes of graphic elements can be described and measured. It also proposes a preliminary conceptual model that accounts for the readily apparent, measurable variables in a visual message. The graphic elements that are described include format, typeface, and photographs/artwork. The…

This paper reports the problems involved in measuring the extent to which the practice in program sites matches model theory formulated in Head Start Planned Variation. The main focus in studying program implementation is the question of internal validity, whether the children in the HSPV programs actually receive the treatment being evaluated.…

This commissioned paper examines the National Assessment for Educational Progress model for citizenship and suggests an alternative model oriented more directly to educational and political goals. In the current model performances on the citizenship exercises can only be interpreted by the population characteristics of age, sex, parental…

The educational goals, as adopted formally or tentatively by the respective States, have been compiled in this single document. The goals were obtained by a survey conducted by the State Educational Accountability Repository (SEAR), a program of the Cooperative Accountability Project (CAP), administered by the State of Colorado. The predominant…

Three propositions which may suggest a strategy for meeting the measurement needs of education are presented: (1) Educational measurement possesses enough techniques and principles to permit tackling problems for their intrinsic importance, rather than for their convenience of fit to answers we already have; (2) Measurement needs are a subset of…

Based on an evaluation system developed by a university educator in vocational education and used in the 1971 report of the Georgia State Advisory Council for Vocational Education, this description of eight evaluation needs for vocational education presents five directional goals, six goals for various educational levels, and six goals for…

Measurement is presented here as a means of enabling health and physical education programs to assume their place as indispensible phases of the educational process. Measurement is considered vital to health and physical education programs; teachers in these fields are admonished to turn to measurement activities as readily and as naturally as…

College students' ratings of their instructors used for the purpose of promotion were compared with those obtained for the purpose of teachers' self-improvement. The students also provided reasons for rating their instructors as they did. Results indicated that students do not rate their instructors differently for either type of questionnaire.…

Five articles focus on issues of accountability within the library profession. The topics discussed include the roles of library schools and associations in developing professional attitudes, performance measures for reference services, responsiveness of collection management to university needs, confidentiality of library records, and guidelines…

Traces the history of grading and discusses the complex problem of evaluation and grading of student achievement. Reviews the various reference measures and notes the type of functions grades are supposed to serve. Cites seven alternatives to traditional grading. Concludes that "grades are the tail that wags the dog." (BRR)

Individuals and organizations are usually so immersed in day-to-day task completion that it is impossible to step back and scan the environment to determine (a) what work is crucial, (b) quality of current and past work, and (c) how the work contributes to larger organizational priorities. This focus on "just keeping up" with what must get done…

This Backgrounder Brief is an executive summary of "Measuring Success: How Will We Know When We Get There?," a component of CoSN's Essential Leadership Skills Series. It has been over twenty years and billions of dollars spent for educational technology since the first computers were put into schools, and educators are hearing increased demands…

In this publication are three short articles on successful school practices. "Learning Is the Outcome; Test Scores Are Just the Measure" describes test-preparation efforts in Mesa, Arizona, public schools. The district has instituted a program to assist principals and teachers in aligning curriculum, instruction, and assessment, and in…