National Institute of Education (NIE) research priorities indicate the use of panel measures only during the time children are in Follow Through programs and further seem to indicate that only implementation variables should be measured. This paper raises questions about the desirability of the narrow focus implied by the NIE priorities, the…

Although the mail survey has been widely criticized as a viable research methodology, it remains the most feasible approach for retrieving data from large, widely-dispersed populations. This paper suggests that there exists a readily accessible body of pragmatic recommendations which, if adhered to throughout the instrument design and data…

Growth curve models are a useful tool for developmentalists because they can estimate an attribute's developmental function by providing a mathematical description of growth on an attribute over time. However, selection of a growth curve model appropriate for estimating individual developmental functions is problematic. The ideal model is the one…

An explanation of the misuse of statistical significance testing and the true meaning of "significance" is offered. Literature about the criticism of current practices of researchers and publications is reviewed in the context of tests of significance. The problem under consideration occurs when researchers attempt to do more than just establish…

Considerable attention has been given to organizational effectiveness of public sector organizations at all levels: local, state, and federal. Public education has not escaped scrutiny. Current examinations of the effectiveness, efficiency, and quality of education are more intense than that of other public sector organizations. The organizational…

Age is often ranked as a significant variable in research studies concerned with the measurement of intellectual and linguistic capacities, including reading. In fact, age is often cited as the cause of a decline in performance on such tasks. However, determining the social, psycho-social, and physiological status of subjects and applying…

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…

Evaluation research is conceived as a question answering process. Four strategies are suggested which emerged from four approaches to the study of questions. Evaluation questions must be identified and classified before research can effectively begin. This paper discusses the four approaches to studying evaluation research questions and their…

Queries 'n Theories provides a parallel to the strong inference approach to scientific method--designing experiments, observing data, and theorizing. (Author)

The authors developed a questionnaire which asked two basic questions (1) what kind of evaluation was performed, and (2) what changes were made as a result of a survey of Innovations in Elementary Schools. (Author/RK)

The purpose of this article is to present data from an ongoing evaluation of a particular social work program to illustrate how organizing the research design to include promising variables can influence results -- in one case showing little effect, in the other, important findings. (Author)

Reviews some of the major impediments to research in counseling and counselor education and then presents a model for research particularly designed to assess developmental change in pupils. (Author)