Identifies and explains some of the crucial elements of team research and data analysis, points out common pitfalls, and makes some helpful suggestions. Sections include general recommendations and communicating in statistical language. (ZWH)

Reviewed are the basic concepts of experimental design, analysis of data, and optimization. Discussed are two-level factorial designs; fractional factorial designs and blocking, additive, linear, and quadratic models; quadratic and composite designs; and designing experiments in design. (CW)

Describes the Monthly Data Grapher, a microcomputer program which helps visualize data to discern patterns and which is suitable for use with elementary school children. Some of its uses are noted and the microcomputer program itself is included. (MBR)

Offers teachers a useful alternative to research methods of the natural science. Using an example of teacher-based action research in the classroom, the author helps to describe the purpose and most efficient execution of this method of research. Also discussed is the issue of validity and reliability. (ZWH)

Academic records of first year students enrolled in Introductory Chemistry at the University of Guelph, Canada, were used to develop a method to examine the effects of individual courses on freshman academic performance. At the center of the technique is a new test statistic useful in creating individual course profiles. Because grade point…

Discusses the use of pocket calculators for the computation of a line by the least-square-fitting method. The method is exemplified with a classical student experiment. (HM)

This book was written to make it easier for classroom teachers to teach students the skills they need to successfully conduct, analyze, and report an experiment and to carry out independent research; it also presents strategies for holding successful science competitions. Part 1 contains field-tested teaching strategies for developing student…

Described is a software package, "Trapeze," within which a routine called LinDis can be used. Discussed are teaching methods, the linear discriminant model and equations, the LinDis worksheet, and an example. The set up for this routine is included. (CW)

Discusses the conventional approaches to teaching about chemical equilibrium in advanced physical chemistry courses. Presents an alternative approach to the treatment of this concept by using Boltzmann's distribution law. Lists five advantages to using this method as compared with the other approaches. (TW)

Both quantitative and qualitative evaluation methods were used to compare perceptions of teacher participants and non-participants in a Title II science update inservice program. The purpose of this article is to compare participants' and selected non-participants' perceptions of their motivations to learn using two evaluation methods. Qualitative…

Describes the statistical test of chi-square analysis. Explains how this test can be used in biology instruction. Examples from blood typing are used. (PR)

Outlines the simple exercise of measuring the length of an object as a concrete paradigm of the entire process of making chemical measurements and treating the resulting data. Discusses the procedure, significant figures, measurement error, spurious data, rejection of results, precision and accuracy, and student responses. (TW)

Discussed are problems encountered when a gas absorption experiment with strong measurement error is used. Notes students either avoid the experiment or report it as defective. Provides ideas to make lab experiments more instructive. (MVL)

Describes the Minnesota Education Computing Corporation (MECC) Computing and Information Collection, a collection of software products for students in grades 4-12. These products are designed to support individual course content objectives and introduce and practice information literacy skills. Curriculum applications in language arts,…

Describes two simple methods of error analysis: (1) combining errors in the measured quantities; and (2) calculating the error or uncertainty in the slope of a straight-line graph. Discusses significance of the error in the comparison of experimental results with some known value. (MDH)