The technique of analysis of covariance is examined for its relevance to educational and psychological investigations. A study of the arithmetic procedures, history, and statistical properties shows that, though the concepts are relevant to many data collection designs, the customary calculations are often inappropriate. Some suggestions are made…

The intent of this experimental program is to test the impact of an assistance system on issues such as work incentive, cost of benefits, administrative costs, and other corollary issues. The structure is to provide assistance that increases as earned income declines, and decreases as earned income increases. Unlike the President's Welfare Reform…

This survey analyzed the attitudes and educational and occupational patterns of 1969 high school graduates from vocational programs. Over half of a stratified random sample of nearly 3,000 graduates responded to the questionnaire after four followups. Summary data were grouped into five categories: (1) geographic distribution, (2) general…

Student's empirical sampling approach is used to assess the magnitude of the sampling errors of statistics describing a recursive causal model. The data were gathered with four complex sample designs commonly used in educational surveys. Jackknife and half-sample error estimates are applied to the data. (Author/CTM)

A set of Tests of Scientific Thinking were developed for possible use as criterion measures in research on creativity. Scores on the tests describe both quality and quantity of ideas produced in formulating hypotheses, evaluating proposals, solving methodological problems, and devising methods for measuring constructs. (Author/CTM)

Using data from the High School and Beyond, this article presents statistical procedures to estimate the effect of dropping out of high school on cognitive achievement test scores. Each sampled dropout is matched to a student remaining in the same school. Methods for addressing the possible omission of covariates are described. (BS)

In 1987 the U.S. Census Bureau created a universe of private elementary and secondary schools for the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES). This universe has been updated every 2 years through list frame updating and area frame updating. For the list frame updating, lists of private schools are obtained from various associations around…

Science curriculum materials designed to improve the attitudes of below average students were developed from guidelines based on a survey of the strengths and weaknesses of these students. (Author)

It is shown that using formulae for the estimation of sampling errors based on simple random sampling, when a design actually involves cluster sampling, can lead to serious underestimation of error. Jackknife and balanced repeated replication are recommended as techniques for dealing with this problem. (Author/CTM)

The effects of certain characteristics (e.g., sample design) of National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) data on statistical analysis techniques are considered. Ignoring special features of NAEP data and proceeding with a standard analysis can produce inferences that underestimate the true variability and overestimate the true degrees of…

Describes the of attribute sampling to estimate characteristics of library collections and operations. The nature of statistical sampling and making a statistical inference are covered, and examples from library situations are given. Tables of determination of sample size and evaluation of results are included. (Contains six references.) (EAM)

A theoretical model proposed by Paul Kantor for determining shelf availability for library materials by checking a small sample of items drawn from the checklist against the stacks and circulation records is applied to a working environment, and the following considerations are examined: (1) time required to apply the model to a working library…

Five comparisons were made relative to the quality of estimates of ability parameters and item calibrations obtained from the one-parameter and three-parameter logistic models. The results indicate: (1) The three-parameter model fit the test data better in all cases than did the one-parameter model. For simulation data sets, multi-factor data were…

In discussion of assessment and its applicability to the needs of the Spanish-speaking student population, four types of assessments are presented in the context of the educationally significant testing needed in this area. The focus of this paper is on the use of comprehensive assessment to measure the repertoire of language resources that the…

The pretest-posttest design referred to as Design 2 by Campbell and Stanley (1963) is commonly used in educational research and evaluation. The tenability of the assumption of a zero population difference commonly used with this design is questioned. A nonzero population estimate based on the mean difference observed in test-retest reliability…