The objective of this commentary is to call attention to the feasibility and importance of large-scale, systematic, quantitative analysis in international and comparative education research. We contend that although many existing databases are under- or unutilized in quantitative international-comparative research, these resources present the…

The prominence of discourse on postsecondary degree completion, student persistence, and retention has increased in the national dialogue. Heightened attention to college completion rates by the federal government and pressure to tie state funding to performance metrics associated with graduation rates are catalysts for the discussion.…

The Federal Pell Grant End-of-Year Report presents primary aspects of Federal Pell Grant Program activity for the 2011-2012 award year. This presentation is a compilation of quantitative program data assembled to offer insights into the changes to the Title IV applicant universe and the Federal Pell Grant Program. The Federal Pell Grant…

This study compared differences in diploma and graduation dropout rates among students with and without disabilities, analyzed differences in various graduation-types by disabilities, and offered recommendations to improve graduation rates through evidence-based practices. The geographic catchment area of this study was limited to twelve Southern…

The Modern Language Association has created a computerized database for the world's 3,024 periodicals on language and literature from which it can retrieve current information including: the number of periodicals in the field and the rate new ones are introduced, number of manuscripts submitted and published each year, etc. (MLW)

A statistical model for characterizing the growth patterns of data base utilization and for estimating future utilization levels of demand has been developed for information retrieval organizations. Illustrations of the model applied to a typical information retrieval organization are given and discussed. (5 references) (Author)

Provides statistical data from MARC-II bibliographic files to be used in the design of a nationwide authority file. The data include information on characteristics of headings and on expected sizes and growth rates of various authority file subsets. Although the data are system dependent, some general implications are derived. (RAA)

The "2004/06 Beginning Postsecondary Students Longitudinal Study (BPS:04/06)" is sponsored by the U.S. Department of Education to respond to the need for a national, comprehensive database concerning issues students may face in enrollment, persistence, progress, and attainment in postsecondary education and in consequent early rates of…

Large-scale databases are an underutilized source of data for secondary analysis by researchers. Major government and private databases available to the public, the types of agencies developing them, and how to obtain and utilize them are described. A catalogue of 20 databases, their characteristics and sources is included. (BS)

Focuses on problems in making machine-readable data files (MRDFs) accessible and in using them: quality of data in MRDFs themselves (social scientists' concern) and accessibility--availability of bibliographic control, quality of documentation, level of user skills (librarians' concern). Skills needed by social scientists and librarians are…

This manual was produced to familiarize data users with the procedures followed in data collection and processing of the fifth follow-up survey of the National Longitudinal Survey of the High School Class of 1972 (NLS-72) and to provide documentation for use of the file. The data file is a computerized data base, which is available on magnetic…

Collecting and using incident data are essential steps for creating safe schools. ("Incidents" are anything from criminal acts to minor problem behaviors that disrupt the orderly functioning of schools and classrooms.) With good data, it is possible to develop effective prevention and intervention plans. This handbook presents the…

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…

An attempt was made to determine who uses data from the Higher Education General Information Survey (HEGIS) and for what purposes. The study objective was to learn if HEGIS is a necessary and useful data base for determining the condition of higher education and developing policy. The quality of the HEGIS data perceived in terms of accuracy,…

This machine-readable data file (MDRF) contains information from the fifth follow-up survey of the National Longitudinal Survey of the High School Class of 1972. The survey was carried out along with the third survey of the High School and Beyond Study. The fifth follow-up data file consists of 12,841 records. The data tape contains information on…