The theoretical perspective and naturalistic methods of ecological psychology developed by Roger Barker are described. Ecological assessment implies examining (1) naturally occurring behavior; (2) environment immediately surrounding behavior; and (3) the individual-environment link. The specimen record, chronolog, and behavior-setting survey are…

Outlines sociolinguistic data collection techniques and relates them to the language teaching situation. (AM)

A study, based on techniques developed at the University of Oregon, explored the impact of special education on the education and postschool outcomes of 528 students with disabilities who had exited from special education services in Arizona. The majority were working full time and earning an average of $5.00 an hour in jobs that relatives or…

Reports on a school project that focuses on a lake's ecosystem and engages students in data collection and analysis. Data are shared with the local government to assist with the monitoring of water quality. Includes tips on group cooperation and assessment. (DDR)

The current context of policy issues and limits of current state education data systems underscore the need to create new, detailed, and comprehensive school-level data systems. Such data could be used to illuminate policy issues relating to governance, resource utilization, accountability, equity, and adequacy. In this special issue, authors…

Describes the "I Wonder" project, which uses student questions to teach and enhance the science curriculum. Students kept journals to reflect upon classroom activities and document solutions to science and mathematics problems, and came up with the topics they wanted to investigate in the form of a question beginning with "I wonder". Includes…

Describes how sixth-grade students in a computer and math project at the Ralph Bunche Computer Minischool in New York City collected and entered penny tossing data on spreadsheets for a unit on probability, and how they were encouraged to collect more data by setting up a World Wide Web-based form. Includes a copy of the Web form. (PEN)

Investigates whether authentic materials increase student motivation in the classroom. Findings reveal that while on-task behavior and observed motivation increased significantly when authentic materials were used, self-reported motivation only increased over the last 12 days of the study. Students reported authentic materials to be less…

Provides background information and a practical guide for including demographic information in developmental research. Describes historic demographic trends reflecting ways family and economic environments have been and continue to be transformed; presents demographic statistics to provide basis for comparison of research populations; and offers…

This article discusses how practitioners can link assessment to action when planning communication interventions for young children with disabilities. It reviews communication components and discusses strategies for collecting information that may be especially useful in the domain of communication. Strategies for turning assessment information…

Discusses the availability of college transfer data now that the National Student Clearinghouse's (NSC) Enrollment Search service has been inaugurated. Illustrates the use of this data resource through a longitudinal cohort outcomes analysis conducted at Prince George's Community College, Maryland. (Contains 12 references.) (AUTH/NB)

Calls for simplicity when presenting data on student achievement. Data should help teachers improve teaching and learning, and focus on specific goals such as determining how many students are succeeding in a subject and, within that subject, what are the areas of strength or weakness. (Contains 22 references.) (WFA)

This article suggest three broad categories of improvements to 13 data systems on juvenile victimization: (1) systems could expand to include more jurisdictions or other population segments; (2) systems need to create more specific data items; and (3) systems need to be modified to provide continuity and interrelationships among systems. (Contains…

Four activities are described which focus on consumer awareness and judgment using data collection and judgment skills involving data from footwear. Worksheets for data collection and activities at home and at school are included. A set of ratings of sneakers from "Consumer Reports" magazine is provided. (CW)

Presents a theoretical discussion of evaluation research and the need for gathering data to support the decision-making process concerned with training program performance. Guidelines for conducting evaluation research are discussed, the participants involved with successful implementation are described, and data gathering methods are explained.…