This report discusses an iterative methodology for logical database design (LDD). The methodology includes four phases: local information-flow modeling, global information-flow modeling, conceptual schema design, and external schema modeling. These phases are intended to make maximum use of available information and user expertise, including the…

In redesigning the data program of the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), there is a need for standard definitions, constant vigilance against redundancy and excessive data collection, audits and verification on local school data and continued attention to equity results as well as excellence and achievement. Major test scores, such…

A study investigated how managers in various kinds of organizations make decisions and also examined ways that using the Marble Company simulation (developed by L. C. Lederman and L. P. Stewart in 1985) could enhance, clarify, and extend its findings. Managers were asked to write down what they would say to their subordinates in order to elicit…

A framework for assessing the implementation and impact of office automation (OA) technology within shore-based facilities of the U.S. Navy is provided. Following a list of the assumptions guiding the evaluation plan, a model for data collection is presented which is based on the perspective of a work group, i.e., a small number of individuals who…

The purpose of this planning study about crafts in the United States is to provide preliminary data and information prior to a national crafts' survey by the National Endowment of the Arts. This study reports on: (1) the preparation of a systematic classification of U.S. crafts; (2) attempts to group and classify crafts people and their…

Most states pursue accountability in public education by collecting and reporting school data, but types of data collected, and how those data are reported and used in holding schools accountable, differ from state to state. This report is designed for state policymakers desiring to refine their existing accountability systems. The report's six…

The purpose of this paper is to discuss the utility of mark-sense readers in locally produced evaluations. The term mark-sense reader refers to a class of electronic devices that convert marks made on a paper sheet to electronic information by means of either electrical or optical sensing of the marks. The most common use of mark-sense readers has…

This paper deals with six sets of concerns and suggestions that arise as attitudes toward urban teaching are assessed. The first set arises from the complexity of measuring attitudes. It is strongly recommended that critiques of attitude data be based on plausible rival hypotheses. The second set involves the identification of beliefs related to a…

The purpose of this publication on agency training evaluation practices is to share approaches used by federal agencies to assess needs and measure training effectiveness. Emphasis is placed on the process of evaluation. Names of the agencies and highlights of the examples used by each follow: (1) Plant Protection and Quarantine (Department of…

This brochure describes the mission of National Assessment, the highlights of recent findings, and the procedures used in gathering the data. It also outlines how the project is administered and governed and projects a framework for the development of upcoming assessments. The booklet includes a number of charts and graphs depicting achievement…

Federal statistics form the foundation and are the standard for private statistics. Reliable and accurate statistics are increasingly used in complex models of the economy and society that have become important tools for management of large business concerns and for policy planning in governmental bodies. Reductions in government funding threaten…

This volume of "Archiving Methodology" provides contractors with standards for developing project-level documentation. This volume is designed to acquaint a potential data user with the research and/or evaluative effort that generated the archived data. It serves as both an introduction to and an overview of a collection of data files by…

Researchers often consider how personal attributes affect the data gathered, and how that effect can be eliminated, or at least minimalized. This question takes on added significance in the realm of politics. Numerous studies have examined the issue of interviewer/interviewee race. The results of these studies indicate that members of one race…

This paper reports on the activities of the National Center for Teacher Education, which is examining what teachers are taught and what they learn in different kinds of teacher education programs. The Center's work combines case studies of different teacher education programs with longitudinal studies of participants' learning. Putting together…

This guidebook aims to provide clear, non-technical descriptions of procedures for evaluating the effectiveness of local gifted education programs in Virginia. The procedures were developed with both external and internal evaluations in mind. The evaluation process is described in four phases: planning, collecting the data, interpreting the data…