Presents rates of return to educational investment in former Yugoslavia by region, by education level, by gender, and for society and the individual. The private rates of return are higher than the social rates. Rates of return decrease with the stock of educational capital and with economic development. Socialism's effects on rates of return are…

This article describes a series of qualitative and quantitative methods used to test a community-based needs assessment model that is bias free and socioculturally relevant for indigenous populations. Results of a field test involving 100 Hawaiian children are presented, and implications for policy formation are discussed. (SLD)

Comparison of 72 middle and 72 low socioeconomic status (SES) families of infants with developmental disabilities, on measures of maternal stress and infant development, found that regression analyses predicted 81% of the variance in later developmental level from initial Bayley Mental Age, initial Mental Development Index, SES, initial maternal…

Educational assessment concerns inference about student knowledge, skills, and accomplishments. Test theory has evolved in part to address questions of weight, coverage, and import of data. Resulting concepts and techniques can be viewed as applications of more general principles for inference in the presence of uncertainty. (SLD)

Personality Assessment Inventory (PAI) profiles of 91 adult female Caucasians were examined to see if significant differences existed between those who reported abuse in childhood or adolescence and those who did not. Significant differences were obtained on several PAI scales and subscales. (SLD)

A study investigated gender differences in standardized college entrance test scores in eight subject areas. Females outscored males in five areas; in two, results were mixed; and in one (mathematics), males outscored females. While females' scores were higher overall, males were better represented at the highest score levels. Implications for…

Demonstrates a statistical model that can be used to develop graphical displays of uncertainty in student grade level placements versus their potential attainment. Suggests how the model can help determine how well the British National Curriculum assessments are working. (SK)

This paper reviews analytic methods for estimating growth curves or developmental trajectories from longitudinal data. Traditional models for studying change are contrasted with a relatively new method, hierarchical linear models. Evidence is presented indicating that hierarchical linear models can overcome some of the methodological limitations…

This article reports the results of using a three-layer back propagation artificial neural network to predict item difficulty in a reading comprehension test. Three classes of variables were examined: text structure, propositional analysis, and cognitive demand. Results demonstrate that the networks can consistently predict item difficulty. (JL)

Research as a means to advocacy is discussed in this commentary on the research articles published in volume 16, issue 3 of "Remedial and Special Education." The role of quantitative and qualitative methods is considered, along with the researcher's ideological perspectives on research, and the importance of generating knowledge that promotes…

Describes the use of the Questionnaire on Teacher Interaction (QTI) in senior biology classes (n=489) and students' perceptions of their interpersonal relationships with their teachers in the classroom environment and its association with student outcomes. Reports that student attitude scores were higher in classrooms in which students perceived…

An understanding of where a user is in a research project (the research script) combined with an understanding of the discourse-level features of empirical abstracts (as revealed by lexical clues) can improve information retrieval. An information retrieval system which takes situational and linguistic factors into account is proposed. (47…

Although 1992 Scholastic Aptitude Test scores have risen slightly, scores are closely linked to family income and education. ACT (American College Testing Program) scores are tied more to academic preparation. Reading performance has improved, but math performance lags behind other nations. Educator demographics, salary information, and regional…

Describes a personal computer and LAN-based automated circulation system capable of handling both Arabic and Latin characters that was developed for use at King Abdullaziz University (Jeddah, Saudi Arabia). Outlines system requirements, system structure, hardware needs, and individual functional modules of the system. Numerous examples and flow…

Examines how participation in decision making affects acceptance of planned change. Hypothesizes that participation influences tactical decisions whereas direction affects strategic decisions. Reports that 222 Israeli managers, completing a battery of psychological ability tests, were given the choice to change test type. Concludes that decision…