This is the decade of data analytics and big data, but not everyone agrees with the definition of big data. Some researchers see it as the future of data analysis, while others consider it as hype and foresee its demise in the near future. No matter how it is defined, big data for the time being is having its glory moment. The most important…

In this article, the author argues that student data is more than just test scores. Alex Kajitani notes that data matter because they provide crucial information to teachers that enable them to better serve their students. Teachers can use data to determine students' strengths and areas of need. The effective use of data means being able to…

As physical education programs are required to be more accountable in demonstrating the positive benefits they provide for their students, it becomes more important for physical educators to be able to provide evidence that their students are changing in positive ways. Assessment is an integral part of the teaching/learning cycle. Teaching is…

Illustrates some problems associated with the statistics used in popular statistical reports. (Author/DW)

Presented are two examples including data sets for which calculating various elementary statistics will reveal something new about the data. The objective of these examples is to show the student what various statistics may reveal, or not reveal, about a given data set. (PK)

This report describes the machine-readable data and tabulating routines that the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) is prepared to distribute. An introduction discusses the LABSTAT (Labor Statistics) database and the BLS policy on release of unpublished data. Descriptions summarizing data stored in 25 files follow this format: overview, data…

Five files were generated from the Public Libraries Survey for fiscal year 1995: (1) the Public Library Data File, including data for the universe of 8,981 public libraries identified by state library agencies; (2) the Public Library State Summary/State Characteristics File, including data aggregated at the state-level for the 50 states and the…

Five files were gathered from the Public Libraries Survey (PLS) for fiscal year (FY) 1996: (1) the Public Library Data File, including data for the universe of 8,946 public libraries identified by state library agencies; (2) the Public Library State Summary/State Characteristics File, including data aggregated at the state level for the 50 states…

This report discusses the capabilities of a computer program called the Detroit Metropolitan Area Data System (DMADS) which was developed to make it possible to manipulate and analyze data from the U.S. census. At the present time the DMADS can be used to generate statistical data and maps of the seven county Detroit area. DMADS contains 2500…

Data collection and analysis are frequently neglected by school leaders over the course of the decision-making process. All schools gather large amounts of information about students and teachers, but most data are used to satisfy administrative requirements rather than evaluate school improvement in a systematic fashion. Apprehension regarding…

This set of activity sheets requires students to organize and display data with a box-and-whiskers graph. Students use the plot as a summary display to detect patterns and to highlight the important features of the data for purposes of comparison. (PK)

An international numerical coding structure is presented for classification of data on education according to level category, educational field, and program type. Explanation of the overall system and a guide for its use is followed by a listing of levels, fields, and programs of education in coded order. The various educational program…

Mandated by the Education Amendments of 1974, this document is the first attempt to describe and interpret the condition of American education in a statistical report. Using the theme of participation, the data identifies participants in education, portrays what goes on in schools, explores changing patterns of age participation in types of…