This CD-ROM disc contains data from the Survey of 1989-90 Recent College Graduates (RCG:91), a national survey conducted by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES). The data available are the public release files in contrast to the restricted use files which are available only under license from NCES. In addition to survey data…

Statistical significance is often misinterpreted to mean replicability or generalizability of results, although a statistically significant difference does not equal a reliable difference. Sample splitting procedures may be a more accurate way of estimating research result generalizability. This type of cross-validation involves randomly dividing…

L-scaling is introduced as a technique for determining the weights in weighted averages or scaled scores for T joint observations on K variables. The technique is so named because of its formal resemblance to the Leontief matrix of mathematical economics. L-scaling is compared to several widely-used procedures for data reduction, and the…

Empirically determines if two approaches, i.e., individual predictor information versus group information, would yield different predictive results, and since the second approach involved the additional expense of grouping whether the prediction of criterion measures by individual data could be enhanced by the addition of group data. (Author/RC)

The purpose of this study was to explore a group of non-dating pre-adolescents meaning of dating by investigating their reasons for engaging in this social behavior and their perception of those activities that constituted this role from their present frame of reference. (Author)

A brief, practical overview of "design effects" (DEFFs) is presented for users of the results of sample surveys. The overview is intended to help such users to determine how and when to use DEFFs and to compute them correctly. DEFFs are needed only for inferential statistics, not for descriptive statistics. When the selections for…

Three procedures for evaluating the sampling specificity of results are reviewed. These procedures are Tukey's jacknife technique, Efron's bootstrap technique, and cross-validation methods. The jacknife technique uses different subsamples derived from the original total data set to provide empirical estimates of the generalizability of effect…

The question of how high a response rate is needed in order for telephone surveys to obtain data that accurately represent the entire sample, was investigated via reevaluating results of three previously published studies and reporting on three 1989 studies for the first time. The three previous studies indicated that, if the sample…

A guide to survey research is presented for both novice and experienced researchers. Steps of the survey research process are covered: (1) planning the survey to determine the purpose of the study, collecting background information, designing the sample, and making a time line for completing the project; (2) questionnaire design, including the…

The method for questionnaire construction described in this paper makes it convenient to generate as many different forms for a questionnaire as there are respondents. The method is based on using the computer to produce the questionnaire forms themselves. In this way the items or subgroups of items of the questionnaire may be randomly ordered or…

In the present study Monte Carlo methods were employed to evaluate the degree to which canonical function and structure coefficients may be differentially sensitive to sampling error. Sampling error influences were investigated across variations in variable and sample (n) sizes, and across variations in average within-set correlation sizes and in…

There are two general methods of cross-validation: empirical estimation, and formula estimation. In choosing a specific cross-validation procedure, one should consider both costs (e.g., inefficient use of available data in estimating regression parameters) and benefits (e.g., accuracy in estimating population cross-validity). Empirical…

The present investigation developed power curves for two parametric and two nonparametric procedures for testing the equality of population variances. Both normal and non-normal distributions were considered for the two group design with equal and unequal sample frequencies. The results indicated that when population distributions differed only in…

This memorandum responds to a request from the House Subcommittee on Census and Population for information concering the planning for the 1990 Census. It identifies eleven major issues concerning the implementation of the 1990 Census: (1) determination of who shall be counted; (2) provision of data for apportionment and redistricting; (3)…