Some nonmetropolitan counties, largely in the southern United States, remained severely economically depressed during the 1970's despite nonmetro America's economic gains during the period; other severely economically depressed counties improved their incomes in the 1970's. This report builds on an earlier study which identified 298 persistently…

To determine the most appropriate use of interest scales in predicting college major at graduation, data from the Vocational Interest Inventory were analyzed. Subjects were 2,175 college graduates who had taken the inventory as high school juniors, and had graduated in one of 22 majors. The effects upon accuracy of classification and conceptual…

Vocational training in general practice has been the focus of increasing attention in medical education in recent years. This paper makes a comparison between the attitudes of trained trainers, untrained trainers, and trainees in order to see what effects courses in general practice teaching might have on attitudes. Objectives in the frames of…

With a sample of 531 children measured on 79 variables, a series of discriminant function predictions of school placement were computed to compare the results of selected alternative procedures for treating missing data in multivariate data analyses. Procedures included elimination of cases with missing data as well as methods for substituting…

This paper relates educational and psychological statistics to certain "Research Statistical Tools" (RSTs) necessary to accomplish and understand general research in the behavioral sciences. Emphasis is placed on acquiring an effective understanding of the RSTs and to this end they are are ordered to a continuum scale in terms of individual…

The dimensions and determinants of positional inequality in the American occupational structure are examined. Using data from the 1972-1973 Quality of Employment Survey, dimensions of occupational differentiation with multiple discriminant analysis are constructed and a causal model is developed to represent the interrelationships of those…

This study was conducted to determine if computer assisted instruction used as a major part of instruction increases mathematics achievement and to explore impact of computers as integral part of instruction on student attitudes toward mathematics, students' perceptions of teachers' attitudes toward them, and student attendance and discipline.…

Research on popularity during childhood and early adolescence suggests that children who are perceived as popular by peers are not necessarily the same children who are sociometrically popular. This study extended previous research on popularity by examining children's perceptions of popularity. The study used open-ended questions instead of peer…

To determine whether individual differences in student achievement and learning rate are reduced or eliminated by mastery instruction, 166 navy trainees who completed a computer-managed course in basic electricity and electronics were cluster analyzed using 24 measures of cognitive characteristics. Discriminant analyses were computed between two…

Computerized analysis of multiple choice test items is explained. Examples of item analysis applications in the introductory economics course are discussed with respect to three objectives: to evaluate learning; to improve test items; and to help improve classroom instruction. Problems, costs and benefits of the procedures are identified. (JMD)

A multilevel variance component analysis from the pilot year of pretesting an instrument--the GENED--designed to present information about general education outcomes is presented, using data from about 11,000 college students. The analysis addresses the discriminant validity of the subtests and statistical issues in test construction. (SLD)

Using student interviews, teacher ratings, and achievement test outcomes, a strategy model of student self-regulated learning was validated as a theoretical construct. Results with 44 male and 36 female 10th graders indicate both convergent and discriminative validity for a self-regulated learning construct. (TJH)

The Autism Behavior Checklist was completed for 67 autistic and 56 mentally retarded and learning-disabled children (ages 6-15). The checklist was effective in classifying children when using either the full scale or only the more highly weighted items. Results did not support a single unidimensional scale or subdividing the checklist into five…

Utility of the Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales-Expanded Form to discriminate among areas of adaptive behavior was substantiated by comparing profiles of scores obtained by 113 individuals with mental retardation and either a communication, social behavior, or motor disorder. Results support the use of the Vineland Scales in ecological evaluation…

A classification rule was developed to predict undergraduate students' withdrawal from or completion of fully online general education courses. A multivariate technique, predictive discriminant analysis (PDA), was used. High school grade point average and SAT mathematics score were shown to be related to retention in the online university courses.…