Research efforts have established that the Mantel-Haenszel procedure (MHP) is an effective method for detecting the presence of test items exhibiting differential item functioning (DIF). While the MHP has been advocated for situations where item response theory based methods may not be usable, recent findings have suggested that the performance of…

The Schools and Staffing Survey (SASS) represents the first time the National Center for Education Statistics has integrated three of the Elementary and Secondary Education Surveys: the Teacher Demand and Shortage Surveys, Public and Private School Surveys, and Teacher Surveys. The SASS was designed to measure the critical aspects of teacher…

Greater knowledge about the practical application of Rasch technology can help in avoiding misapplications and confusions in testing programs. Equal interval curriculum-based scaling makes possible the following improvements in measuring basic skills achievement by enabling testing programs to: (1) individualize the difficulty level of…

Twelve articles that are designed to provide ideas to engineering department heads are presented. Articles and authors are as follows: "Estimating Undergraduate Student Capacity for an Engineering Department," (T. W. F. Russell, R. L. Daughtery, A. F. Graziano); "Financial Evaluation of Education Programs," (George DePuy and Ralph Swalm); "The…

Four problems faced by the staff of the California Assessment Program (CAP) were solved by applying Rasch scaling techniques: (1) item cultural bias in the Entry Level Test (ELT) given to all first grade pupils; (2) nonlinear regression analysis of the third grade Reading Test scores; (3) comparison of school growth from grades two to three, using…

The three RMC models endorsed by the U.S. Office of Education for the evaluation of Elementary and Secondary Education Act Title I programs are based on narrowly conceived approaches to evaluation--the measurement of cognitive achievement gains. Each model requires the comparison of observed student performance with an estimate of what level of…

This paper develops and estimates a model of the educational process. Most researchers have relied on a single equation, educational production function, which is an unrealistic formulation. A pupil's achievement, motivation, expectations, self-concept, and his perceived parents' and teachers' expectations are determined jointly, not…

This book, one of a series prepared in connection with the Behavioral and Social Sciences Survey (BASS) conducted between 1967 and 1969, deals with problems of statistics, mathematics, and computation as they related to the social sciences. Chapter 1 shows how these subjects help in their own ways for studying learning behavior with irregular…

A longitudinal study followed Brian from grade five through grade seven to examine his representation and development of mathematical knowledge. Some observations over the four years were that Brian liked to figure things out, responded poorly to suggestions not fitting the representation he constructed, and changed attitudes from purposeful and…

Detecting differential item functioning (DIF) on test items constructed to favor 1 group over another was investigated on parameter estimates from 2 item response theory-based computer programs--BILOG and LOGIST--using data for 1,000 White and 1,000 Black college students. Use of prior distributions and marginal-maximum a posteriori estimation is…

An exploratory study assessed the degree to which 13- and 14-year olds (n=100) adjusted assumptions of direct proportionality suggested by surface structure of word problems. Virtually no errors were made on "straightforward" items, but many students showed no adjustment for realistic constraints on complex items. (Contains 21…

This study investigated construct validity and factorial invariance of a performance assessment of reading comprehension and writing proficiency through a multitrait-multimethod (MTMM) structure using confirmatory factor analysis. The performance assessment was administered to 1,023 fifth and sixth graders. Interrater reliability was examined for…

"Seeing Fractions" is an instructional unit for teachers in California that was trial tested in about 30 classrooms, grades 4 through 6 with diverse student populations, and designed to help students become aware of the variety of ways in which fractions are commonly used. The Introduction includes an overview of fractions and what…

Item response theoretic methods are applied to the measurement of achievement of students from various instructional backgrounds. This extended item response theory (IRT) approach serves as a tool for studying instructional bias, or instructional sensitivity. The model maintains the form of an IRT model, but has parameters that quantify the extent…

The issues of achieving school desegregation and providing programs for students with special needs, while at the same time facing enrollment declines, have forced school administrators to improve techniques for projecting demand. This paper describes a new procedure that combines forecasting of enrollments and management of facilities and that…