A STUDY OF 12 WISCONSIN SCHOOL DISTRICTS MEASURED THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE EXTENT OF INNOVATIVENESS EXHIBITED IN SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND THE DEGREE OF CONSENSUS OF EXPECTATIONS FOR THE SCHOOL BOARD ROLE WITHIN AND BETWEEN GROUPS OF CITIZENS, TEACHERS, ELECTED MUNICIPAL OFFICIALS, AND SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS. MEASURES OF INNOVATIVENESS INCLUDED (1)…

The major concern for any research model, whether disproportionate or not, is the research question and how well that question is reflected by the model. Three "exact solutions" for disproportional situations, the hierarchial, unadjusted main effects, and fitting constant methods, are discussed in terms of the research question that each…

The advantages of Goodman's Gamma, a measure of association, are discussed in reference to the Pearson coefficient of contingency. Both theoretical and practical advantages and disadvantages are discussed. An empirical comparison of the two measures shows that gamma detects significant relationships which chi square does not, and that gamma is…

Techniques for detecting synergistic effects in analysis of variance designs are presented and discussed. These techniques make it possible to apply some kinds of theoretical insights to the data analysis phase of a study: either by seeking synergistic effects implied or predicted by theory, or by seeking evidence of synergies as alternative…

A study was made of the problem of representing the expectations of mean squares associated with analysis of variance sources of variation for experimental designs. These designs have a factorial structure over repeated measures or, for some other reason, have variates within a factorial design not all of which are mutually independent. A simple…

The Fisher Exact Probability Test considers independent groups and dichotomous criterion in a 2 by 2 (fourfold) contingency table. Fisher's test requires a determination of the combined probability of the observed frequency distribution and of the more extreme (in the same direction) frequency distributions. Typically, Fisher's test is for a small…

The power of the t, expected normal scores, Mann-Whitney U, Tukey, a modified Mann-Whitney U, and an adaptive procedure were investigated when sampling from population models empirically developed from test score distributions. The models used were selected members of the beta family. This investigation was unique in that not only did the means of…

Multivariate models are demonstrated to analyze repeated measures profile and growth curve data when univariate or multivariate mixed model assumptions are not tenable. Standard mixed model tests are recovered from certain multivariate hypotheses. The procedures are illustrated using numerical examples. (Author/RC)

Multiple matrix sampling is a psychometric procedure in which a set of test items is subdivided randomly into subtests of items with each subtest administered to different subgroups of examinees selected at random from the examinee population. Although each examinee receives only a proportion of the complete set of items, the statistical model…

To resolve a recent controversy between Klein and Cleary and Levy, a model for dichotomous congeneric items is presented which has mean errors of zero, dichotomous true scores that are uncorrelated with errors, and errors that are mutually uncorrelated. (Author)

The construction and validation of a learning hierarchy designed to assist instruction in the skills of science hypothesis formation and testing are described. Results of the validation using prospective elementary teachers are described, and the revised hierarchy is presented. Revalidation results for a different group of teacher trainees are…

This project was designed to test the hypothesis that "variation in quantity of practice in writing, when all other relevant factors are held constant, will result in variation of ability to write." Writing was limited to expository writing, and the factors held constant were quality of instruction, ability of students, and evaluation procedures…

Bayesian statistical inference is unfamiliar to many educational evaluators. While the classical model is useful in educational research, it is not as useful in evaluation because of the need to identify solutions to practical problems based on a wide spectrum of information. The reason Bayesian analysis is effective for decision making is that it…

Although analysis of variance is the most popular statistical tool to researchers in the behavioral sciences, the casual user has recognized only recently that there is no single correct way to perform such an analysis. This paper is concerned with hypotheses tested in the two-way, fixed model under a variety of conditions: (1) with and without…

The argumentative perspective enables rhetoric to function in a manner analagous to science or analytic philosophy, yielding reliable knowledge about nonempirical topics, which other methods cannot address. In short, argumentation is the equivalent of hypothesis-testing. Forensics should offer laboratory experience in developing this perspective…