Large-scale analyses are a powerful and increasingly common tool for investigating a range of public health and social concerns (Pienta, O'Rourke, & Franks, 2011). This series will provide a primer on large-scale secondary analysis in school psychology, with this article focusing on considerations for researchers interested in applying and…

The purpose of this article is to clarify the discrepancy in the use of "queer" as a sexual identity classification in education survey research. This study extends the work completed by Dugan and Yurman (2011), who empirically demonstrated problems with treating LGB students as a homogenous population through collapsing all respondents…

The purpose of this article is to inform researchers about and encourage the use of longitudinal designs to further understanding of human resource development and organizational theory. This article presents information about a variety of longitudinal research designs, related statistical procedures, and an overview of general data collecting…

In this article, the author discusses how researchers can use mixed-methods approaches and intersectional analyses to understand college access among first-generation Asian American and Pacific Islanders (AAPIs). First, he discusses the utility of mixed-methods approaches and intersectionality research in studying college access. Then, he…

Resampling methods including randomization test, cross-validation, the jackknife and the bootstrap are widely employed in the research areas of natural science, engineering and medicine, but they lack appreciation in educational research. The purpose of the present review is to revisit and highlight the key principles and developments of…

To avoid reduction in observational data resulting from correlational techniques for analyzing interpersonal interactions, a data-transformation method based on multidimensional scaling techniques was applied to the Family Interaction Coding System. Two resulting dimensions, prosocial-deviance and high-low involvement, were applied to observations…

Examines and rejects common criticisms of the causality concept; shows causality is a relation implied in the grammar of a language about objects. Discusses objective criteria for concepts of causal relations and explains how the concept of causality may be modified to have causes determine probabilities of outcomes. (Author/RH)

Provides a set of guidelines for evaluating research using structural equation modeling (SEM). Offers insight into how someone familiar with SEM would judge the adequacy of a study using such methods. (Author/RH)

Demonstrates ways in which conclusions about models may be affected by violations of the assumption that the observed variables are normally distributed. Addresses the issue of the robustness of findings obtained under such conditions. (Author/RH)

A dialog between two fictional teachers provides some basic examples of how research that uses approved methodology may provide results that are significant statistically but not significant practically. (PGD)

The second half of a dialogue between two fictional teachers examines the significance of statistical significance in research and considers the factors affecting the extent to which research results provide important or useful information. (PGD)

Challenges the typical treatment of causal effects in longitudinal data, arguing that models should be conceptualized and tested in ways that directly reflect prior assumptions as to the trait- or state-like nature of the variables. Examples demonstrate that meaningful longitudinal studies of state variables can be conducted without assuming their…

Argues that educational researchers analyzing multilevel data must identify appropriate sets of research questions at and within various levels of analysis and must specify appropriate models for analyzing the data. Covers problems, terminology, and measurement and statistical issues associated with multilevel research. (PGD)

As complex, sophisticated techniques for statistical analysis become easier to obtain and apply, it becomes increasingly critical for researchers to examine their data prior to analysis to ensure that the data are suitable for analysis. Exploratory Data Analysis provides methods for subjecting data to appropriate pre-analysis scrutiny. (PGD)

In psychological and special education research, group comparison experimental designs are more often used than single subject experimental designs. However, the application of group designs poses many difficulties, such as the collection of large numbers of homogeneous subjects for a particular experimental condition, the averaging of individual…