This "Practitioner's Guide to Growth Models," commissioned by the Technical Issues in Large-Scale Assessment (TILSA) and Accountability Systems & Reporting (ASR), collaboratives of the "Council of Chief State School Officers," describes different ways to calculate student academic growth and to make judgments about the…

The data collected in higher education research are not always quantitative or continuous. Statistical methods using the log-linear model provide the institutional researcher with a powerful set of tools for addressing research questions when data are categorical. (Author/MSE)

Focuses on four issues related to providing government numeric databases in libraries: hardware, access software, staff skills, and organizing services. Basic, intermediate, and advanced levels of service and a guide for selecting an appropriate level are presented. Examples of screens from actual searches are included. (Contains eight…

The third volume of the revised "Higher Education Finance Manual," this guide describes the principles included in presenting financial information in a format showing where money comes from (sources) and where it goes (uses). Potential analytical applications and limitations of the source/use concept are described, and the application…

This report summarizes the findings and describes the products of a 2-part research project that examined the parameters of Washington's interlibrary loan cooperation statewide, and developed a set of computer models to be used in simulation studies of associated activities and policies. It contains a statement of the problem; an historical…

A report of comprehensive efforts within Tennessee to determine the extent of support in individual schools, school systems, counties, and congressional districts is reported, including the simple formula used. Also described are some of the linguistic maps and statistical tables in the report and the possible applications for teachers in other…

Considers several systems automating local departmental-based data facilities. Describes design and implementation of a simple system. Concludes by reflecting on changes needed in the system. (Author/CK)

Seven potentially useful maxims from the field of human information processing are proposed that may help institutional researchers prepare and present information for higher education decision-makers. The maxims, which are based on research and theory about how people cognitively process information, are as follows: (1) more may not be better;…

This study describes the Michigan special education work force (as of 1988-89) with regard to six issues, one primary and five supplemental, having to do with the need for and supply of special educators and attempts to predict future personnel needs. The primary issue concerns the factors that will affect the teacher supply and demand in the near…