The authors encourage those in the field of school psychology to consider the use of learning disabilities assessment practices in relation to specific American Psychological Association and National Association of School Psychologists ethical codes and in regard to the American Educational Research Association, American Psychological Association,…

A set of studies done for the Washington State Superintendent of Public Instruction (WSPI) constituted a case study testing the conjecture that management consulting is potentially cost effective in some areas of educational evaluation. The case study involved first interviewing 22 respondents from four WSPI constituencies (educators, employers,…

Reviews background of atomic absorption spectrometry techniques. Discusses problems encountered and precautions to be taken in determining trace elements in the parts-per-billion concentration range and below. Concentrates on determining chromium in biological samples by graphite furnace atomic absorption. Considers other elements, matrices, and…

Illustrates use of time-series designs for determining efficacy of interventions with fictitious data describing drug-abuse prevention program. Discusses problems and procedures associated with time-series data analysis using Auto Regressive Integrated Moving Averages (ARIMA) models. Example illustrates application of ARIMA analysis for…

The Judicial Evaluation Method (JEM) is useful for aiding decision-making bodies to formulate policies. Broad public participation in complex issues is provided by JEM. (The conceptualization, policy formulation stages, and participant roles are identified; and the model is applied in two case studies). (MH)

Describes problems of assessing change with short time-series data: unreliability of visual inference and fact that current statistical procedures cannot control Type I error because they underestimate positive autocorrelation. Shows how problems can be solved with new interrupted time-series analysis procedure (ITSACORR) that uses more accurate…

Presents strategy for analyzing interdyadic differences in sequential data on social interactions. Shows how to statistically describe interactional structure within each dyad governing stream of that dyad's social interactive behavior and how scores describing dyadic structures can be related to covariate information about dyads. (Author/NB)

Outlines the Emporia State University methodology for developing and implementing a placement survey focusing on employment situation, salary, and geographic location as these are the most commonly asked questions by students and are federal requirements. Demonstrates how to successfully collect annual post-graduation follow-up information.…

Locating pairwise differences among treatment groups is a common practice of applied researchers. Articles published in this journal have addressed the issue of statistical inference within the context of an analysis of variance (ANOVA) framework, describing procedures for comparing means, among other issues. In particular, 1 article (Jaccard &…

Shows how discrete-time survival analysis can address questions about onset, cessation, relapse, and recovery. Uses data on onset of suicide ideation and depression and relapse into cocaine use to introduce concepts underpinning method, describe action of discrete-time hazard model, and discuss main effects and interactions that can be included as…

Reviews application of causal modeling in family research. Discusses uses of and critics' views of causal modeling to explain reasons for controversial position of causal modeling in social sciences. Reviews requirements for effectively implementing causal modeling strategy, commenting on some attempts of family researchers to use it. Includes…

Notes that many employers use student's grade point average (GPA) as the criterion for interviewee selection, presenting problems for students who may have gotten low grades early in their college careers but higher grades later. Presents a formula for deriving an "equivalent GPA" for such students by taking into account education, experience, and…

Discusses problems in analyzing change in nonexperimental data. Tests three ordinary least-squares regression models to illustrate similarities/differences. Notes that model based on raw difference change scores applies best to studying change processes; model based on outcome scores applies best to assessing consequences of change; and model…

To guide the unbiased process of visual inference, a four-step model is presented for the assessment of reliability, intervention effect, meaningfulness, and generalizability. A Visual Inference Checklist (VIC) systematizes this assessment process. (Author)

Notes that single-case designs rarely appear in the counseling supervision literature. Illustrates and provides a rationale for their use as supplement to rating scales and speculates on reasons for their infrequent use. Contends that single-case designs, particularly three case study preexperimental designs and multiple-baseline experimental…