This article discusses the five studies included in this issue. Each article addressed the same topic, population invariance of equating. They all used data from major standardized testing programs, and they all used essentially the same statistics to evaluate their results, namely, the root mean square difference and root expected mean square…

The National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) has completed two assessments of mathematics, the first conducted in 1972-73 and the second during 1977-78. Each assessment surveyed the mathematics achievement of American 9-, 13-, and 17-year-olds, using a deeply stratified, multi-stage probability sample design. This report documents…

This CD-ROM disc contains data from the Survey of 1989-90 Recent College Graduates (RCG:91), a national survey conducted by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES). The data available are the public release files in contrast to the restricted use files which are available only under license from NCES. In addition to survey data…

Through utilization of effective sampling procedures, libraries may obtain substantial savings in terms of data collection costs. (Author)

One of six summaries of workshop sessions (See TM 000 130), designed to strengthen the evaluation of costly programs and their effects, this handbook presents an analysis of both random and nonrandom sampling errors by application of the Bayesian model. This model attempts to formalize the process and procedures of inference from data through…

This paper presents a plan for obtaining statistical information for justifying budget requests, planning staffing, and assessing service without placing heavy burdens on the staff. (Author/JAB)

To test the use of Bayes's theorem to adjust for nonresponse bias, 600 hospitals were used in a simulated sample survey. On the basis of known information on five variables, Bayes's formula correctly predicted the status of 92 of the 100 "nonrespondents" relative to a sixth variable. (Author/BW)

This article describes methodological strategies, decisions, and issues that emerge when conducting qualitative research. In particular, topics such as situating the research design, sampling considerations, data collection methods, and the analytic and interpretive process are explored. Examples from published research are provided to illustrate…

Demonstrated that time sampling is inaccurate for estimating durations or frequencies of behaviors. Also concluded that (1) individual or group differences can change depending on whether time sampling or continuous sampling is used; and (2) error rates are high when bout lengths of behaviors are short or when interval length is long. (BC)

The Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development's (OECD's) Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) surveys, which take place every three years, have been designed to collect information about 15-year-old students in participating countries. PISA examines how well students are prepared to meet the challenges of the future,…

The popularity of the sample survey in educational research makes it necessary for consumers to tell a good study from a poor one. Several sources were identified that gave advice on how to evaluate a sample design. The sources are either limited or too extensive to use in a practical sense. The purpose of this paper is to recommend six important…

This paper explains the methodology and procedures used by the Center for the Study of Community Colleges (CSCC) in carrying out a national survey of community college students to gather information on student demographic characteristics, educational background, educational objectives, and opinions about the college experience. As background…

After the terms "qualitative research" and "quantitative research" are defined, this paper considers why it makes sense to integrate these approaches, at least under some circumstances. This discussion necessitates attention to the issue of whether quantitative and qualitative research are inextricably linked to incompatible…

Three questions are discussed: (1) what approach will be taken to gain and maintain access to school districts and schools to administer assessment instruments? (2) what procedures should be employed in the difficult and complex task of gaining access to nonstudents (age 17)? and (3) what problems are likely to be encountered in doing this? Access…

This brief guide to interview training in survey research is designed for persons without previous training or experience in interviewing. Basic techniques of interviewing are presented in such a manner as to facilitate the training of persons with varying educational and socioeconomic backgrounds. Topics include: the interviewer's role in the…