While many instructors are aware of the "Literary Digest" 1936 poll as an example of biased sampling methods, this article details potential further explorations for the "Digest's" 1924-1936 quadrennial U.S. presidential election polls. Potential activities range from lessons in data acquisition, cleaning, and validation, to…

Reform efforts in statistics education emphasize the need for students to develop statistical thinking. Critical to this goal is a solid understanding of design in the process of collecting data, evaluating evidence, and drawing conclusions. We collected survey responses from over 700 college students at the start of an introductory statistics…

Language sample analysis (LSA) is valuable clinical tool and an important component of comprehensive language assessment. However, LSA is underutilized in real-world practice. SLPs have identified time constraints, insufficient training, and lack of confidence in LSA skills as barriers to regular LSA implementation. Communication science and…

The learning sciences community's interest in learning analytics (LA) has been growing steadily over the past several years. Three recent symposia on the theme (at the American Educational Research Association 2011 and 2012 annual conferences, and the International Conference of the Learning Sciences 2012), organized by Paulo Blikstein, led…

This qualitative study examined instructors' and students' perceptions of social relationship in distance learning. Interview and observational data were collected and analyzed to generate theories. Convenient sampling was used. Factors influencing a sense of distance were analyzed. Findings revealed greater difficulty establishing a social…

As mobile phone use and text messaging has continued to play a more central role in people's daily lives, some researchers and clinicians have sought to use the medium as a tool for interventions and data collection. Such efforts have included sending tailored health messages to college students who are trying to quit smoking. This research brief…

National Assessment of Educational Progress. Their reading skills aside, young Americans not only attach great importance to studying literature but are remarkbly avid readers. (Editor) Aspect of National Assessment (NAEP) dealt with in this document: Results (Interpretation).

In this paper we hope to show that the continuing question of whether or not attitudes have an effect on behavior can be answered. (Editor)

The equivalency of item sampling and student sampling of attitudes of college students was investigated. A factor analysis of student-sampled data collected during Spring 1968, was compared with a factor analysis of item-sampled data collected each quarter from Fall 1968, through Winter 1970, at Mankato State College, using the Campus Environment…

This handbook describes the procedures used to administer and analyze the results of the 1978-79 national music assessment of the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP). It also describes changes in procedures between the first NAEP music assessment conducted in 1971-72 and the 1978-79 assessment. Each assessment surveyed the music…

A common theme in current school reform efforts is that teachers within schools must become reflective practitioners if they are to become more successful in improving instruction to meet the needs of increasingly diverse populations. In an effort to help schools promote district-level reflection about instructional improvement, Boston College's…

Two different methods for collecting course-specific data on class learning and growth are discussed. The first, Item/Student Sampling, is directly dependent upon assessing class performance both prior to and following instruction. This procedure relies on multiple matrix sampling techniques. The second method, referred to as Self-Report of Course…

Reports on a study of the beliefs held by students, parents, and teachers regarding desirable schooling and teaching in grades one to eight in Porto Alegre, Brazil. Examines the combined use of qualitative and quantitative research methodologies; rationales and procedures of naturalistic and rationalistic inquiry; and implications for research in…

This handbook describes the procedures used to develop, administer, and analyze the results of the 1978-79 art assessment of 9-year-olds, and 17-year-olds by the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP). The primary purpose of the handbook is to provide detailed procedural information for people interested in replicating the assessment…

Describes a social work course incorporating ethnographic research methods, including seven course modules that cover sampling, data collection, data analysis, theory development, presentation of findings, and practical application within a clinical setting. Also presents student evaluations of course relevance and usefulness, and educational and…