This article describes four measurement tools that are of potential value for institutional researchers as greater demands are being placed upon their work. The author describes scale development, select methods for setting passing scores, validating passing scores and the topic of equating--both equipercentile and linear. Not only should…

Accountability in performance is a subject of increasing attention and concern for community colleges. In California, much attention has been focused on student transfers from the community colleges to four-year institutions as a primary facet of institutional performance. This focus often leads to comparisons of transfer rates between colleges…

The effectiveness of community colleges is increasingly dependent on their understanding of the external environment and their capacity to forecast and respond to the changing external landscape. As a result, they need to establish a system to continuously monitor changes in that environment and to identify and weigh the implications of changes on…

Describes the uses of focus groups (i.e., a form of qualitative research involving a small group of respondents and moderator in an unstructured group discussion) in community college research. Discusses what can be learned from focus groups, focus group projects conducted in several community colleges, and problems researchers may encounter.…

Over the decade of the 1990s, the student body of Prince George's Community College underwent dramatic shifts in its demographic makeup, as did the school's service area. This paper illustrates the importance, especially in these circumstances, of systematically comparing college enrollment trends with the demographic vectors of the surrounding…

Describes the organizational culture at Shoreline Community College (Washington) and how it supports data collection and assessment throughout the institution. Traces the development of the culture and identifies key organizational practices and characteristics underlying the college's commitment to assessment theory and practice. (Contains 12…

This paper identifies a need to study the success of students taking college course offerings using distance education. Measurement issues are discussed, including a proposal for definition of some key variables involved in studying distance delivery by institutional researchers. Concerns about student outcomes are identified using data from two…

Argues that student evaluations of teacher performance are too often based on subjective viewpoints of little value in helping faculty improve instruction. Describes Illinois Valley Community College's development, at the departmental level, of an evaluation instrument that focuses on observable teacher behaviors and is tailored to specific…