Describes prototype retrieval systems that use statistically based rank retrieval of records for text retrieval and bibliographic records: (1) the PRISE System at the National Institute of Standards and Technology; (2) the CITE System, for MEDLINE; (3) the Muscat System at the Scott Polar Research Institute; and (4) the News Retrieval Tool at the…

Analysis of survey responses of elementary and junior high students (n=1,527) in regular, resource, and self-contained special education classrooms found significant main effects for group, grade, and group by grade interactions for amount, type, and time spent doing homework; opportunity to do homework at school; parents' assistance; and…

Replies to E. A. Hanushek's questioning of the validity of meta-analysis as used by the authors in analyzing resource allocation and its effects on improving student academic performance. Statistical analysis procedures are examined. (GLR)

Studied when and how adolescent girls become involved in violent street crime as well as the explanatory factors for this criminal behavior. Subjects were 85 incarcerated women in New York City. Results suggest a need to better understand the impact of neighborhood, peer, and addiction factors in female adolescent criminal violence. (GLR)

Analyzes public school funding patterns across the 50 states to help address continuing fiscal inequity problems. Findings support other investigations showing substantial variations in the distribution of public education revenues within states, even after years of ameliorative litigation and legislation. Equalization is costly and requires…

This study evaluated child sexual abuse statistics since introduction of a child sexual abuse program in 1985 in Shelby County, Tennessee. Findings suggest a highly fluctuating validation rate, higher validation rates for girls than boys, possible underreporting of male victims, and 78 percent of the perpetrators being known to their victims.…

The use of contingency tables in creating a statistical profile of a college student population is explained. The method provides simultaneous cross-indexed frequency distribution of two database fields. Common uses are discussed, and application is illustrated in a hypothetical student retention study. Extensions for nonnumerical fields and…

Studies conditions under which women and minorities were hired for managerial positions in higher education administration. Determines that odds of a new person hired being a woman or minority is positively affected if the previous employee in that position was a woman or minority. Finds that past segregation is among the leading influences on…

Finds the acoustical environment of kindergartens to be a compound product of teacher-pupil-object activity with a thrust that may undermine educators' intentions. Observes that teachers working with an integrated pedagogical code must make their perceptions visible and hearable. Finds that uncontrolled sound does not foster teacher-student…

Review of research investigating gender differences in computer-related behavior examines statistical and methodological flaws. Issues addressed include sample selection, sample size, scale development, scale quality, the use of univariate and multivariate analyses, regressional analysis, construct definition, construct testing, and the…

This study assessed reading difficulties and cognitive impairments of German-speaking dyslexic children at grade levels two, three, and four. It was found that German dyslexic children suffered from a pervasive speed deficit for all types of reading tasks, including text, high frequency words, and psuedowords but, at the same time, showed…

This commentary on the mismeasurement of language and reading comprehension abilities argues that quantitative measures of complex behaviors and subsequent ranking of individual performance often do not accurately reflect the abstract constructs they purport to measure, and inappropriate quantification and ranking create and perpetuate potentially…

Day-care center enrollments, hours of service, and total capacity are used as the basis to calculate units of full-time care and full-time equivalent (FTE) enrollment. FTE can be used as an accurate gauge for monitoring the success and performance of a day-care center. (PAM)

A study investigated the factors influencing students' decisions about attending a college to which they had been admitted. Logit analysis confirmed gravity model predictions that geographic distance and student ability would most influence the enrollment decision and found other variables, although affecting earlier stages of decision making, did…

Two studies measured the effects of overall and genre-specific extensive reading habits on performance on tests of school-based writing. Results suggest that, at most, extensive exposure to written texts may have little impact on nonnative writing proficiency. Further research is recommended. (13 references) (LB)