Education systems are increasingly creating rich, longitudinal data sets with frequent, and even real-time, data updates of many student measures, including daily attendance, homework submissions, and exam scores. These data sets provide an opportunity for district and school staff members to move beyond an indicators-based approach and instead…

This rejoinder to McCall (Volume 56, 217-218) discusses the differences in viewpoint with respect to the relationship between models and theory, the notion of "direct" tests of propositions, and the use of measures of explained variance to evaluate model performance. (Author/BE)

Regression models were developed for predicting internal and external turnaround time for interlibrary loan requests. Variables included document characteristics (publication age, language, document type, and subject); request characteristics (patron type, staffing levels, number of daily requests, and number of concurrent requests from a patron);…

Estimates confluence model of intellectual development for a within-family sample of 321 children from 101 transracial adoptive families. Mental ages of children and their parents and birth or adoption intervals were used in a nonlinear least-squares estimation procedure to obtain children's predicted mental ages. Results suggest efficiency of the…

A modal model of information processing was defined, and nine tasks that could be completed by persons with mental retardation were developed to operationalize the model. Results showed that individual differences in higher mental processes are highly dependent on basic cognitive abilities and can be predicted from them. (Author/JDD)

This article responds to commentaries (EC 604 996-998) on a paper by Douglas Detterman and others (EC 604 995), which developed and tested a modal model, with young adults with and without mental retardation as subjects, to assess basic cognitive abilities in relation to cognitive deficits. (JDD)

Seven techniques for measuring information processing in infants are proposed to aid in the early identification of mental retardation. The techniques are based on conditioning, attentional, and manual exploration paradigms and could be combined into an assessment battery more valid than current infant IQ tests in predicting later disability.…

This exploratory resource allocation model for implementing community-based supported employment services for persons with mental retardation uses a multivariate linear regression approach to project the hours required to develop a job site based on the size of the community, the rate of unemployment, and the percent of service jobs. (Author/DB)

Using data collected in 95 Ohio school districts by Brock Hunt, this study reanalyzed those data, examined the reasons for Hunt's inability to predict a school board member incumbent's defeat, and developed a model that would have predicted those Ohio school board elections. Hunt attempted to develop a statistical model of socioeconomic-political…

Examines a statistical model in which the users of an online system continually update their estimated probability of success, and quit or continue the search according to the expected utility of each action. The implications for search strategies are discussed. (Author/EM)

Describes a sustainable planet index (SPI) to gauge the survivability of the earth ecologically and economically. Compares the SPI to the consumer price index and general business cycle theory from which it draws constructs. Suggests that the SPI exhibits properties of a sine wave and is useable in mathematical formulations, explanation, and…

This study comparing three theoretical orientations of educational failure found that predictors based on child deficit assumptions were least able to discriminate among low, average, and high teacher recommendations; those based on environment deficit assumptions were more able; and those based on ecological assumptions were most able. All…

A methodology for confronting students with the inconsistencies entailed by their own beliefs is outlined. This methodology is illustrated using the dynamics domain of physics and a computer modeling program, DYNALAB. (KR)

This paper describes an enrollment forecasting model that was developed in 1988 by the Office of Institutional Research for a small, private, liberal arts college (Wesley College, Delaware). The college, shifting in demographics from its historical junior college mission to that of a comprehensive baccalaureate institution, required a forecasting…

Project MAP (Model Accounting Plan) is a demographic accounting model for monitoring the transitions of special education students through the school system and after graduation. MAP predicts the students' paths, considering the student's age, handicap, and instructional setting. Discussed are a pilot test and the model's potential benefits and…