In China, 24 undergraduate business students applied data flow diagrams (DFD) to a mini-case, and 20 used object-oriented analysis (OOA). DFD seemed easier to learn, but after training, those using the OOA method for systems analysis made fewer errors. (SK)

Presents a quick and simple exercise that demonstrates what is meant by the term "statistically insignificant." Demonstrates the bell curve distribution, the relationship of a sample to the population it is supposed to estimate, and the t-test. (DDR)

The McNamara/Thompson guidelines for teaching basic statistics in principal preparation programs say courses should stress data analysis skills; illustrate statistical concepts using school-related, real-world data; concentrate on descriptive statistical methods; and familiarize candidates with univariate distributions, exploratory data-analysis…

Three types of data analyses from the National Assessment of Educational Progress and the Third International Mathematics and Science Study illustrate how these large-scale studies can be informative and useful for local educators. Such assessments can help identify differences in curriculum, instruction, and teacher preparation related to…

This two-part article combines a comprehensive account of a probabilistic model of retrieval with new systematic experiments on TREC (Text Retrieval Conferences) Program material. Part 1 covers the foundations and the model development for document collection and relevance data, along with the test apparatus. Data and results tables for both parts…

A comprehensive account of a probabilistic model of retrieval with new systematic experiments on TREC (Text Retrieval Conferences) Program material. Part 2 covers the further development of the model, with testing, and briefly considers other environment conditions and tasks, model training, concluding with comparisons with other approaches and an…

Describes a recurring error in standard analyses of educational performance, the "politician's error," that results from using percentage point differences as though they were percentages. This simple oversight results in the misinterpretation of trends over time, with implications for both policy and research. (SLD)

Assessed the impact of the Office of Management and Budget's revised standards for collecting race and ethnicity data on state health departments, highlighting the Massachusetts Department of Public Health. The revised standards appear to affect state health departments, adding complexity to data collection and analysis, but producing a more…

Describes how fisheries research and management data (available on a website) have been incorporated into an Introductory Statistics course. In addition to the motivation gained from seeing the practical relevance of the course, some students have participated in the data collection and analysis for the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department. (MM)

Provides details on the instrument development, sample design, data collection, and data analysis procedures for the 1998 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) national and state assessments. Includes information necessary to show adherence to testing standards of professional organizations. (SLD)

Discusses how to develop an effective assessment process for learning communities, including initial considerations, the value of student involvement, questions guiding the study, data management, and considerations for future studies. (EV)

Examines assumptions underlying the employment of group means in communication research. Suggests a sample mean cannot be assumed to be a "good" statistic when the response vector represents different individuals' outcomes versus different outcomes of an individual. Notes implications for communication research. (SR)

Two school districts in Washington State are seeing fundamental shifts in the learning process by using technology as a tool to support data-centric instruction. An effective student-assessment strategy includes comprehensive information about student progress, analysis of assessment information so specific instructional strategies can be…

Part of a series exploring how mathematics is used in the workplace. Software developers and statisticians record data of hockey games and players using statistics accessible to middle school students. (MM)

Presents activities to supplement the usual diagnostic procedures that middle school math teachers employ at the beginning of the school year to ascertain the math skill levels of their new students. Includes activities related to problem solving, data analysis, estimation, and fractions. (ASK)