This article reviews the mechanics of conventional and piecewise growth models to demonstrate the unique affordances of each technique for examining the nature and predictors of children's early literacy learning during the transition from preschool through first grade. Using the nationally representative Family and Child Experiences Survey…

Many Medicaid programs have either fully or partially carved out mental health services. The evaluation of carve-out plans requires a case-mix model that accounts for differing health status across Medicaid managed care plans. This article develops a diagnosis-based case-mix adjustment system specific to Medicaid behavioral health care. Several…

A general model for prediction and association is described for the situation in which both criterion and predictor(s) are discrete variables. The approach can be employed for the general case involving any number of predictors, and the related measures of multiple and partial association are described. (Author/GK)

A technique to estimate variances of weighted estimates in program evaluation is discussed. BRR estimates of variance are constructed from orthogonally weighted subsamples and can provide better estimates from complex samples than can other methods. Use of BRR is illustrated in a government evaluation of a food service program. (SLD)

A statistical model is presented for evaluating the effectiveness of the Demerit Points System of Victoria (Australia) in reducing traffic offenses. Estimates of the mean waiting time between offenses were made by maximum likelihood methods. Empirical results with 46,982 drivers--participants in a Driver Improvement Program--support the system's…

This study evaluated several statistical models for estimating treatment effects in a randomized, longitudinal experiment comparing assertive community treatment (ACT) versus brokered case management (BCM). In addition, mediator and moderator analyses were conducted. The ACT clients had improved outcomes in terms of housing and psychiatric…