Data from international comparative studies in education are generally derived from complex, multi-stage sample designs and rotated assessments. Consequently, care must be taken not only in estimating variance components but also in interpreting them. Target population definitions, the nature of the sampling stages and their sampling units, and…

Ten evaluation models are examined in terms of their applicability to investigative, emergent design programs: Stake's portrayal, Wolf's adversary, Patton's utilization, Guba's investigative journalism, Scriven's goal-free, Scriven's modus operandi, Eisner's connoisseurial, Stufflebeam's CIPP, Tyler's objective based, and Levin's cost…

A description is presented of the mathematics curricula in four different school types in the Netherlands, based on empirical data from the Second International Mathematics Study. It was shown that there were big differences within and between school types. (LMO)

The curriculum development effort that stemmed from Project Head Start's "Strategy for Spanish-Speaking Children," the evaluation results, and policy implications for national efforts in bilingual education are discussed. (Author/LC)

Lack of use of educational evaluation results in the Netherlands was investigated by analyzing 14 curriculum evaluation studies. Results indicated that rational decision making with a technical (empirical) evaluation approach makes utilization of results most likely. Incremental decision making and a conformative approach make utilization least…

To alter the predominance of secondary school enrollment in lower vocational education in the Rotterdam district, the Educational Social Environment Project has developed and introduced kindergarten and elementary school curriculum for socially deprived children. This article describes the project's summative evaluation design, variable…

Two quasi-experimental longitudinal studies, conducted by the Centre for Educational Research in Landau, Germany, are reported. Various effects of reporting the outcomes of learning to students were studied. Results emphasized the importance of feedback for learning outcomes. (LMO)

Further development of research regarding the effectiveness of parent education programs depends upon a shift in conventional strategies of program evaluation. Current evaluation methods have been dominated by an interest in the outcomes of parent education programs. It is suggested that program evaluations should examine relationships between…

Four evaluation studies concerning the relationship between parent behaviors/attitudes and child achievement are presented. In each study, parental data were obtained either by direct observation or lengthy face-to-face interviews. In all four studies, significant relationships were found between parental measures and child achievement. (Author/LC)

Although "quality of education" issues are currently popular in educational evaluation, the author argues for an empirically resolvable evaluation paradigm: Given the target population, program goals, and boundary conditions, how do educational treatments compare in terms of learning effects? Agreement on pre-set specifications and the…

Six journals containing 1,913 empirical studies are reviewed for trends in special education research: Exceptional Children, Journal of Special Education, Journal of Learning Disabilities, American Journal of Mental Deficiency, Psychology in the Schools, and Journal of School Psychology. Type of exceptionality, research topic, and research design…

Point of entry problems are faced by evaluators when asked to start an evaluation at an inappropriate time or to perform an inappropriate study. The fundamental purpose of evaluation is to help improve services. Guidelines are presented for choosing when to do a context, input, process, or product evaluation. (GDC)

An overview is presented of decision-oriented educational research, based on experiences in a large urban school district and on the literature. Alternative definitions of research use and evaluation use are discussed, with particular attention to the dissemination of research outcomes. (GDC)

The influence of two studies--the Westinghouse-Ohio and Consortium for Longitudinal Studies evaluations--on Project Head Start are discussed. The associations of one evaluation with program contraction and the other with program expansion are analyzed in terms of differences in findings, study credibility, climate of opinion, and dissemination of…

Long exposure to French, verbal ability in one's native tongue, general intelligence, and ability grouping were correlated with competence in French as a foreign language. The Swedish policy of mixing beginning French students who vary in ability and motivation was questioned. (CP)