Provides an introduction to sampling, determination of sample size, and selection of the actual sample that would be useful for librarians conducting research and evaluation studies. Highlights include sampling method, sampling error, confidence level, and microcomputer software packages that help determine sample size. (Contains 26 references.)…

A focal-animal sampling technique was applied to measure and quantify visitor behavior at an enclosed hummingbird aviary. The amount of time visitors stayed within the aviary and how they allocated time was measured. Results can be used by exhibit designers to create and modify museum exhibits. (LZ)

Discusses how to use attribute sampling to assess the accuracy of a library circulation system. Describes the nature of sampling, sampling risk, and nonsampling error. Presents nine steps for using attribute sampling to determine the maximum percentage of incorrect records in a circulation system. (AEF)

Communication samples were collected from 15 normally developing children (ages 11-27 months) during the prelinguistic, single-word, and multiword stages, using both structured and unstructured contexts. Significantly more requests were used during the structured context, but no significant difference was found between the numbers of comments used…

Using Shakeshaft and Hanson's criteria developed in a 1986 evaluation of androcentric bias in "Educational Administration Quarterly" articles published during the 1970s, examines articles published in "EAQ" during the 1980s. Although bias diminished in the gender of contributing authors and use of inclusive language, other less…

Discussion of journal article titles as an index to the contents, and thus to the underlying discipline, focuses on a study that was conducted to investigate the development of the field of counseling. Use of the Danielson and Bryan Index is described, and implications of a trend toward longer titles are suggested. (11 references) (LRW)

Reliability and validity of self-report data provided by 178 mentally ill homeless persons were generally favorable. Self-reports of service use also generally agreed with treatment staff estimates, providing further validity evidence. Researchers and administrators can be relatively confident in using such data. (SLD)

A Monte Carlo simulation explored how to optimize power in the extreme groups strategy when sampling from nonnormal distributions. Results show that the optimum percent for the extreme group selection was approximately the same for all population shapes, except the extremely platykurtic (uniform) distribution. (SLD)

Four things are recommended to minimize the influence or importance of statistical significance testing. Researchers must not neglect to add "statistical" to significant and could interpret results before giving p-values. Effect sizes should be reported with measures of sampling error, and replication can be built into the design. (SLD)

The delta method was used to derive standard errors (SES) of the Levine observed score and Levine true score linear test equating methods using data from two test forms. SES derived without the normality assumption and bootstrap SES were very close. The situation with skewed score distributions is also discussed. (SLD)

Use of linear combinations of Fisher's "z" transformations as a combined test for the common correlation parameter based on "k" independent sample correlations has been previously studied. This article considers additional "z" additive properties and methods of combining independent studies when planning the number of…

A distribution theory is derived for a G. V. Glass-type (1976) estimator of effect size from studies involving paired comparisons. The possibility of combining effect sizes from studies involving a mixture of related and unrelated samples is also explored. Resulting estimates are illustrated using data from previous psychiatric research. (SLD)

Describes methods to increase the participation of Hispanic residents in community-needs-assessment activities based on experiences in Tampa (Florida). Includes suggestions for defining the population, estimating population size, selecting the sample, translating instruments, and administering the survey. (SLD)

This article first reviews the research establishing the need to sample text-level discourse in assessment of language abilities and identifies issues for clinicians constructing their own language sampling protocols. It then describes two protocols for use in school- and clinic-based settings, with examples of how these protocols have been…

Introduces some of the considerations behind the teaching of research methodology at the Royal School of Library and Information Science (Denmark) at the masters level. Discusses information retrieval experiments; sampling problems; the concept of a model; and statistical analysis and its role in information retrieval experiments. (Contains 25…