Kanawha County (West Virginia) schools use Z-scores to identify elementary students eligible for Chapter 1 services in reading and mathematics. A probit analysis of over 500 previously served students was used to determine the variables and weights in the Z-score equations. Independent variables were chosen from those commonly used to identify…

In five experiments with over 2,500 subjects, we examined the hypothesis that cognitive processing variables measuring breadth of declarative knowledge and information processing speed were related to learning outcomes on a paired-associates task. Experiments 1 and 2 compared recall with recognition tests, Experiment 3 assessed the effect of…

The Panel on Guidelines for Statistical Software was organized in 1990 to document, assess, and prioritize problem areas regarding quality and reliability of statistical software; present prototype guidelines in high priority areas; and make recommendations for further research and discussion. This document provides the following papers presented…

Reflecting on a career spent in assessment in personnel selection and managment, the author lists 12 things (items) that he wishes he knew about assessment. The first four items are underdeveloped ideas set aside because of the field's preoccupation with equal employment opportunity. A second set (items five through eight) comes from intellectual…

A survey was conducted of the families and teachers of 1009 students with severe disabilities from five states, to identify factors associated with their integrated educational placement. The questionnaires were designed to measure 19 variables which integration literature suggests are predictive of integrated placement. Logistic regression…

This guide explains the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) and how it can help students prepare for a career. The ASVAB, sponsored by the Department of Defense, is a vocational aptitude battery consisting of 10 short tests that cover academic and occupational areas. The results of the 10 tests are combined to make composite scores.…

To determine the most accurate means of estimating the expected grade or reading level of 61 sixth grade students, three expectancy formulas were compared to a custom regression equation from a user friendly microcomputer program. The expectancy formulas, based in part on student I.Q. and chronological age, and the regression equations were…

The ability of Vroom's expectancy motivation theory to predict student satisfaction with the college environment, student participation at school, and student academic performance was studied. Specific objectives of the study were as follows: to test the ability of Vroom's valence model to predict student satisfaction, to test the ability of…

In an attempt to improve general instruction at the college level, a study investigated the adaptability of the cloze procedure for use in undergraduate courses, specifically examining the relationship between cloze performance tests and student achievement. In the first portion of the study, six cloze procedure tests based on selections from five…

This study assessed whether there was any relationship between scores on the mathematics section of the Pre-Professional Skills Tests (PPST) and selected possible predictors of performance for 118 students at Harding University in Searcy (Arkansas) who took the PPST between January 1, and October 1, 1989. Focus was on providing information that…

A discriminant analysis was performed to ascertain what psycho-educational assessment variables made the greatest predictive contribution to the classification of high school students referred for Child Study Team evaluation. Thirty-nine students classified as learning disabled were compared to 47 classified as ineligible for special services.…

Data from the Cooperative Institutional Research Program Follow-Up Surveys were used to study student retention at four-year colleges and universities. Data used were from the 1985-1988 follow-up surveys of 1981-1984 freshmen. Student data were also requested directly from the institutions themselves, concerning degree earned, number of years…

Longitudinal dropout rates (LDR's) for public school students and LDR's of pupil membership by ethnic group based on two Texas Education Agency reports are estimated. LDR's are calculated for the state, by school district size, for the 21 largest districts, and by average high school size. Findings dispel the prevalent perception of the dropout…

In 1990, a study was conducted at Tompkins Cortland Community College (TCCC) to determine if there was a significant difference in the personal characteristics of applicants for full-time study who actually attended and those who did not attend the college. In addition, the study sought to identify those variables that accounted for the largest…

Four essays and associated introductory text constituting the proceedings of a symposium on dropout research issues are presented. The introduction by Glynn Ligon makes a call for considering what is known about dropouts, what is needed to be known about dropouts, and how these findings can be communicated to educators, the public, and lawmakers.…