A survey of 15 developers of computerized real-time observation systems found many systems have incorporated laptop or handheld computers as well as bar-code scanners. Most systems used IBM-compatible software, and ranged from free to complete systems costing more than $1,500. Data analysis programs were included with most programs. (Author/CR)

Uses a study of an Australian Extended Stay Outdoor Education School Program as an example to examine the rationale and methodology for conducting outdoor education research. Discusses qualitative versus quantitative methods; case studies; location and arrangements; conducting of interviews; data transcription; type of analysis (grounded theory…

Discusses a computer system that has given users the ability to generate their own reports and analyze data, revolutionizing institutional research at the University of Memphis. (EV)

Describes how latex-based creatures are made and used to explore various topics in inquiry-based middle school science. Provides a variety of sample data and includes sections on safety concerns and chemistry notes for the teacher. (DDR)

Provides details on the instrument development, sample design, data collection, and data analysis procedures of the 1996 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) long-term trend and main assessments for the United States. (Author/SLD)

Examines common assumptions about the rationality or irrationality of organizational behavior and finds that decision making occurs in a complex context that successful college/university institutional research offices must recognize and work with. Finds that emerging organizational theories suggest there are limitations on the use of data and…

Investigates the relations among consultant and consultee verbalizations and behavioral consultation treatment outcomes. The study consisted of analyses of a database generated from three behavioral consultation training grants which included 25 graduate student consultants, 26 teacher consultees, and 102 children with emotional disabilities…

Discusses the role of the academic dean and its conflicting pressures of administration and scholarship. Reports on the first phase of a study exploring the sources of stress experienced by 825 deans in both Australia and the United States. Analyzes findings in terms of a four-component managerial stress model and provides tables detailing deans'…

Discusses the analytical problems that research on the academic profession must address and summarizes recent trends and debates. Suggests possible future developments in the context of four scenarios: "key profession,""academic work,""mediator," and "antiquity." Findings of the International Study on the Academic Profession are discussed in the…

Presents a lesson for high school students in which they collect and analyze data using questions from the actual Census 2000 long form and then participate in a simulation of a local planning council meeting to consider the short- and long-term community needs. Includes the Census 2000 long form. (CMK)

This study examined perceptions of preparedness for post-secondary education in the province of Ontario. Participants were 272 university students enrolled in the first year of a four-or five-year concurrent teacher education program and represented two distinctive groups: (a) entrants who had completed the old five-year Ontario Academic Credit…

This study explored relations between social network characteristics in an online graduate class and two learning outcomes: affective and cognitive learning. The social network analysis data were compiled by entering the number of one-to-one postings sent by each student to each other student in a course web site discussion space into a specially…

In this article, the author discusses how assessment has taken a central role in library education, the concept of identifying and measuring the contributing factors toward effective learning in order to optimize course delivery has become a vital activity, with the incorporation of online course delivery as well as other technology-enriched…

Institutional researchers frequently use national datasets such as those provided by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES). The authors of this chapter explore the adjustments required when analyzing NCES data collected using complex sample designs. (Contains 8 tables.)

The purpose of this study was to examine the perspectives of key policy informants on the factors that they believed influence policy decisions in literacy education. Participants were selected because they had significantly influenced, or had attempted to influence, policy decisions in literacy at either the national or state level.…