This study was designed to address two frequent criticisms of the SAT essay--that essay length is the best predictor of scores, and that there is an advantage in using more "sophisticated" examples as opposed to personal experience. The study was based on 2,820 essays from the first three administrations of the new SAT. Each essay was…

This study used system-wide student satisfaction data from the 14-university Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (SSHE) to develop a model for predicting student retention, to identify individual students who could be retained with appropriate intervention, and to target factors which may be useful in the intervention process. A student…

A study was conducted at Scottsdale and Paradise Valley community colleges to assess the importance of math for the study of economic principles and the extent to which a student's math background determines performance in micro- and macro-economic courses. Students (N=156) from six economic principles classes were surveyed regarding their high…

In 1989, a study was conducted at Riverside Community College (RCC) using regression analyses to predict grades as well as student success (C grade or better) in political science and history courses. Initial independent (predictor) variables included placement test scores on each of the three ASSET tests of baskc sills (reading, language usage,…

The purposes of this study were to determine if there is a significant difference in postsecondary business student scores and test completion time based on settable test item exposure control interface format, and to determine if there is a significant difference in student scores and test completion time based on settable test item exposure…

The question of tenure as an economic variable is discussed. Using data from the 1973 ACE Survey of Teaching Faculty, a statistical model is provided to estimate time from Ph. D. to tenure. Results show that the tenure rate (the chance that a nontenured faculty member will be granted tenure in any given year) did increase during the period of…

In evaluation research studies, it often occurs that several program participants (experimentals) drop out of the program prior to completion. Since noncompleters generally differ substantially from completers in many respects, a control group which originally was representative of the participant group will most likely not be representative of…

Differences in the prediction of academic achievement between traditional and older undergraduate students are examined. Central tendency and correlational statistics were used to analyze the independent variables using college grade-point average as the dependent variable. Data were analyzed separately for freshmen and transfer students as well…

Commonality analysis is a statistical technique used within the context of a study to examine school effects among disadvantaged students. The research investigated the unique and common contributions of background, mental ability, program and parental involvement variable sets to the reading vocabulary and comprehension of students participating…

According to Cronbach's method of data analysis--which decomposes individual scores into separate components for different levels of aggregation--data collected for an investigation of the development of individual differences in ability test scores from grade 4 through grade 9 were grouped into school district, class, and individual components.…

This study was conducted to determine if student evaluations of faculty are affected by the characteristics of the teacher, the student, and the class. Each instructor was asked to answer questions indicating personal warmth, professorial rank, years of teaching experience, sex, and class size. Students were asked to complete the Instructional…

This paper was intended to promote a deeper understanding of a statistical method called balancing developed by National Assessment of Educational Progress. Problems in estimating main effects when populations are disproportionate, balancing solutions to these problems, methods equivalent to balancing, interpretation of balanced results, and some…

The suppressor variable, a variable wholly uncorrelated with a criterion, but which nevertheless improves prediction because of its relationship with a predictor, is critically examined. For a suppressor so defined, formal identities are shown with part, partial, and multiple correlational procedures. It is demonstrated that if maximum prediction…

Duncan's interpretation of his research on the nature and process of the distribution of rewards in the U.S. stratification system is questioned. Statistical and conceptual flaws are noted in Duncan's work and their implications explored. A reanalysis of primary survey data is presented and, based on a reinterpretation of this data, a…

Change Group Analysis is suggested as a technique for examining the correlates of the differential effects of a compensatory education program within the group of enrolled pupils. It is based on using pretest-posttest relative changes for forming criterion groups and then using multiple disciminant analysis to uncover patterns of predictor…