Systematic sampling error due to self-selection is a common topic in methodological research and a key challenge for every empirical study. Since selection bias is often not sufficiently considered as a potential flaw in research on and evaluations in higher education, the aim of this paper is to raise awareness for the topic using the case of…

The few studies focusing on the relationships between higher education expenditures and student outcomes have produced contradictory results. This study hypothesized that the lack of consistent relationships is a function of the fact that the effects of expenditures on outcomes are mediated by student engagement. Furthermore, it is expected that…

The perceptions of a representative sample of GRE test takers who were asked to indicate their views of the importance of eight factors in graduate admissions were examined. Candidates perceived undergraduate grades as the most important factor in graduate admissions, followed by recommendations and test scores. (Author/MLW)

A study is reported that found marital status to be an important predictor of community college graduating quality point average in the following programs of study: Business Administration General, Business Administration Transfer, Executive Secretarial, and Nursing Education. (Author/MLW)

A study investigated the effectiveness of a weighting procedure for adjusting survey results to correct for nonresponse bias. Using data from a Cooperative Institutional Research Program followup survey, results indicate that the procedure is highly effective in univariate distributions; its effectiveness in adjusting correlation and regression…

This paper compares the results of National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) and the Carnegie surveys of postsecondary faculty and notes the differently constructed samples, the different response rates, and different weighting schemes in analysis and interpretation. Inconsistencies in the surveys' results are identified and methodological…

The concept of paradigm development, it is suggested, can explain differences in organizational contexts of university departments. Departments from high-paradigm fields are embedded in a context with clearly identifiable and distinguishable dimensions. (Author/MLW)

The empirical validity of the Biglan model of academic disciplines is supported. Examples are provided to illustrate how the systematic use of this model could enhance the quality of research on university faculty members and the academic administration of colleges. (Author/MLW)

The critical issues, in a dispute between Romney's interpretation of his results and Gillmore's interpretation, are described as whether the teacher factor should be treated as fixed or random in the analysis of variance model and what conclusions can be drawn from the results of the study. (Author/MLW)

An examination of student evaluation of course quality showed student evaluation to be the most powerful input variable. Lecturer and textbook evaluation had significant effects on whether the student would recommend the course to others. The quality of instruction in introductory courses has impact on future enrollment plans. (Author/MLW)

Minimum reading comprehension of prospective teachers and average readability of required undergraduate textbooks are contrasted. The Degrees of Reading Power (DRP) test, which represents student test scores, and textbook readability measurements on the same scale was used. Teacher education program applicants in Kentucky participated. (Author/MLW)

A study tested a resampling methodology (bootstrap simulation) by examining the effects of class size and student motivation on students' ratings of teaching effectiveness. Results suggest that evaluations based on student ratings should look at more than class averages, and that class size and student motivation affect overall ratings. Examples…