Illustrates some applications of elementary probability and statistics to epidemiology, the branch of medical science that attempts to discover associations between events, patterns, and the cause of disease in human populations. Uses real-life examples involving cancer's link to smoking and the AIDS virus. (MDH)

A model for predicting organized youth sport participation readiness has four predictive components: sport-related fundamental motor skill development; sport-specific knowledge; motivation; and socialization. Physical maturation is also important. The model emphasizes the importance of preparing children for successful participation through…

Describes the practice of federal evaluation of research impact through three approaches: retrospective methods; qualitative methods, including peer review; and quantitative methods. Recommended areas for study in federal research impact assessment are suggested, including predictive reliability, comparative studies, time and cost estimates,…

Demographic impacts of meeting the National Health Objectives for 2000 were studied using life-table methods. Meeting the targets would increase life expectancy at birth by 1.5-2.1 years to 76.6-77.2 years. Modifying the coronary heart disease and unintentional injury targets to be more optimistic would further increase life expectancy. (SLD)

Argues that G. A. Cziko's conclusions about the inadequacy of mainstream educational research result from misunderstandings of statistical method, philosophy of science, and other topics. Perceptual control theory, which he espouses, may contribute for educational research but its potential does not result from shortcomings of mainstream…

The validity of using readiness tests for placing children in regular or 2-year kindergarten programs was studied in 9 Virginia school districts with a total enrollment of 17,662 in 1986-87. Four tests were evaluated; none were impressive predictors of performance on tests administered at the end of kindergarten. (SLD)

Students who accept the goal of becoming physicians early in life because of external pressures appear to have lower academic achievement than students who develop their professional identity because of personal abilities or interests. Data are from students (N=1156) attending the University of Michigan medical school between 1976-81. (MLW)

Examines responses of 40,435 students from the "Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance Survey" and uses student self-reported school risk behaviors to "predict" recent weapon possession at school. Although school risk behaviors were moderately correlated with school weapon possession, many frequent weapon carriers displayed zero…

Investigated the capacity of the Pharmacy College Admissions Test (PCAT) to predict success in pharmacy school. Found demographic differences in PCAT scores, and that the PCAT used in combination with pre-pharmacy grade point average is meaningful in assessing applicants to pharmacy school; applicants with PCAT composite percentile scores below 40…

The Resident Assistant (RA) position continues to expand and increase in complexity. The demands and responsibilities of the position can create a stressful environment for the RA. Choosing the right candidate for the RA position assists the residence life program, the institution, and above all the students. The results of this research present a…

The present analyses used depression-related items and co-factors from the National College Health Assessment (NCHA), Spring 2000. The results indicate 10.3 % of college students (6.2% male and 12.6% female) reported ever having been diagnosed with depression. Of those ever diagnosed with depression, 39% were diagnosed in the last year, 27% were…

Reactions to training programs tend to be poor predictors of training success, yet most training programs are evaluated based solely on trainee reactions. In this study, we proposed that distinguishing between affective and cognitive employee reactions may improve the prediction of trainee learning. Our results indicated that cognitive employee…

Despite readily available alumni survey data warehoused at many alumni associations and foundations across colleges and universities, researchers have underutilized the abundant available data to identify key predictors of alumni donation, including factors that trigger alumni donation behavior. Utilizing the data from a two-year alumni survey…

Numerous studies on death anxiety report conflicting findings. Concluding that a lack of specificity may explain the mixed results, this study sought to address the lack of focus and to extend and validate the results of an earlier study. A sample of 152 undergraduate students (111 female) from middle to upper-middle class participated. Subjects…

A study developed a multiple regression prediction equation for each of six selected achievement variables in a popular standardized test of achievement. Subjects, 42 fourth-grade pupils randomly selected across several classes in a large elementary school in a north Florida city, were administered several standardized tests to determine predictor…