This research connects several data-driven educational data mining approaches to a framework for interaction developed in educational research. In particular, 10 million usage data points collected by a Learning Management System used by students and teachers in 450 online undergraduate courses were analyzed with this framework. A range of…

Determining how learners use MOOCs effectively is critical to providing feedback to instructors, schools, and policy-makers on this highly scalable technology. However, drawing inferences about student learning outcomes in MOOCs has proven to be quite difficult due to large amounts of missing data (of various kinds) and to the diverse population…

The purpose of this study was to investigate if students are prepared to release any personal data in order to inform learning analytics systems. Besides the well-documented benefits of learning analytics, serious concerns and challenges are associated with the application of these data driven systems. Most notably, empirical evidence regarding…

Access to a quality education is unevenly mapped by the demographic context of the communities in which public school students live. A growing body of research suggests that this geographic effect deeply challenges the goal of equalizing educational opportunities. This paper explores the relationship between students' neighborhood characteristics…

The utility of a non-linear transformation of the criterion is established. The Pythagorean Theorem is used as the example to demonstrate the point. The functional relationships may be such (as in the Pythagorean Theorem) that an R-squared of 1.00 cannot be found without making a non-linear transformation of the criterion. The goal of…

The value of variance is emphasized, and the element of design, frequently not adequately understood, is clarified to underscore the importance of variance to the researcher. Two analytic methods, analysis of variance (ANOVA) and multiple regression, are discussed in terms of how each uses/applies variance. Advantages and major difficulties with…

The problems inherent in analyzing data in which subjects are "nested" within hierarchical units (such as classrooms or schools), and thus are not independent of one another, are addressed through the use of Joreskog's LISREL model for analyzing covariance matrices. A solution to the problem is proposed and illustrated using data from…

The issues and some proposed solutions regarding Follow Through (FT) site variability are examined with a review of developments in FT evaluation. The role of adjusted site means with differences within sponsors and between sponsors and background characteristics is discussed to determine whether adjusted means are the preferred measures of model…

This paper describes an adaptation of Dyer's regression model that uses data on individual students in an attempt to isolate the influence of different schools on variations in student achievement growth. This procedure involves comparing the results of a multiple regression analysis of individual student achievement scores and several…

The study examined the economic, social structural, and social psychological indicators of quality of life (QOL) in the United States. QOL can be defined for any individual as that set of conditions which after being met makes the individual happy or satisfied. It is a subjective concept. Data for the study were taken from 1099 responses to the…

The prediction that differences in incomes of high school and college graduates will not change is tested by applying standard statistical procedures to data describing actual income differences. Data from the United States Bureau of the Census describe annual incomes of men twenty-five years old and older during 1956-75. Report 1 displays results…

The accuracy with which regression models estimate treatment effects is dependent upon a number of conditions. The stability of the regression line (a function of sample size and correlation between pretest and posttest) is said to be the most important of these conditions. The utility of regression models is proportional to the size of the…

A relatively simple procedure for modeling periodic components in time series data is presented in this paper, along with an example of the procedure's use with communication data. Similar to multiple regression analysis, the described procedure has four steps that are based on information about periodic waves and their components, how to create…

This document contains four papers from a symposium on measurement and research tools for human resource development (HRD). "The 'Best Fit' Training: Measure Employee Learning Style Strengths" (Daniel L. Parry) discusses a study of the physiological aspect of sensory intake known as modality, more specifically, modality as measured by…

A research design, decision support system, and results of a comparative analysis of enrollment and financial strength (of private institutions granting masters and doctoral degrees) are presented. Cluster analysis, discriminant analysis, multiple regression, and an interactive decision support system are used to compare the enrollment and…