Methods to handle ordered-categorical indicators in latent variable interactions have been developed, yet they have not been widely applied. This article compares the performance of two popular latent variable interaction modeling approaches in handling ordered-categorical indicators: unconstrained product indicator (UPI) and latent moderated…

Prospective longitudinal data collection is an important way for researchers and evaluators to assess change. In school-based settings, for low-risk and/or likely-beneficial interventions or surveys, data quality and ethical standards are both arguably stronger when using a waiver of parental consent--but doing so often requires the use of…

Self-report surveys are widely used to measure adolescent risk behavior and academic adjustment, with results having an impact on national policy, assessment of school quality, and evaluation of school interventions. However, data obtained from self-reports can be distorted when adolescents intentionally provide inaccurate or careless responses.…

Interest in end-of-year accountability exams has increased dramatically since the passing of the No Child Left Behind Act in 2001. With this increased interest comes a desire to use student data collected throughout the year to estimate student proficiency and predict how well they will perform on end-of-year exams. This article uses student…

Expectancy theory predictions of course performance were tested for a sample of 195 undergraduates; significant prediction was attained for the total sample using a log linear expectancy model. (Author)

The first of two experiments on direct evaluation procedures involved students' judgments of how well they understood terms and concepts presented in a course. In the second, responses to short examination-type questions were obtained. In both, a class comprehension index was sufficiently sensitive to detect differences due to instruction.…

A random sample (n=50) of a school district's total grade level was evaluated in kindergarten, then in first grade using a comprehensive battery of assessments. Data were interpreted to support the Battelle Developmental Inventory as a valid multifactored assessment for use with both handicapped and nonhandicapped young children. (Author/BS)