Describes how a computer program which simulates four techniques of town sampling can be used to teach survey sampling in a college level social research methods course. (Author/DB)

Linear conversions were developed relating scores on recent forms of the Graduate Record Examinations. Conversions based on specially selected subpopulations were compared with total-group conversions and evaluated. Conclusions indicated that the data clearly support the assumption of population independence for homogenoeous tests, but not quite…

Khuri's and Satterthwaite's methods of obtaining confidence intervals of variance components are compared. The article discusses that Khuri's method may be applied to obtain confidence intervals for the variance components and other linear functions of the expected mean squares used in generalizability theory. (Author/JAZ)

Given a loss function, an asymptotic method for optimal test design for a specified target population of examinees is presented. Also, of more practical use, given an existing unidimensional test and target population, a way is presented to find the loss function for which the test is optimal. (NSF)

This "Technical Guide" describes the methodology and concepts used to measure and grade the performance of the 50 states in the higher education arena. Part I presents the methodology for grading states and provides information on data collection and reporting. Part II explains the indicators that comprise each of the graded categories.…

This study addressed statistical techniques that might ameliorate some of the sampling problems currently facing states with small populations participating in State National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) assessments. The study explored how the application of finite population correction factors to the between-school component of…

This report is the last in a three-part series examining the relationship between school resources and student achievement in California. The central focus in all three reports has been the standards-based reform of California public schools. Between 1995 and 1998, California introduced academic content standards specifying what students should…

The 2004/06 Beginning Postsecondary Students Longitudinal Study (BPS:04/06), conducted for the U.S. Department of Education's National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), collected information about the education and employment experiences of students in the two years following their first enrollment in postsecondary education. The primary…

This update to the School Enrollment Report of the Current Population Survey presents detailed tables about the school enrollment of the civilian, noninstitutionalized population of the United States. It is the first update of a new series designed to reduce the number of printed reports by updating Current Population Survey tables annually while…

Context-dependent items are traditionally analyzed independently, creating a situation in which the potential local item dependence effects among these items may cause a biased estimation of examinees' abilities. This study investigated the local item dependence effects on testlets in the tryout version of a statewide science assessment by a Rasch…

Well-conducted, theory-guided empirical research into school administration is important, but will never by itself provide ultimate answers to questions of human action, choice, and value. This paper describes the theoretical framework studies conducted by the Cognitive Approaches to School Leadership (CASL) Project. The paper explains central…

This study examines the magnitude of the difference between estimates from the 1990-91 Schools and Staffing Survey (SASS) using a Common Core of Data (CCD) definition of a school and a Quality Education Data (QED) definition of a school. The 1990-91 SASS sample design allows for the development of school and administrator estimates using either…

The National Household Education Survey (NHES) is a data collection system of the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) designed to address a wide range of education-related issues. It is a telephone survey of the noninstitutionalized civilian population. In 1995, the NHES included a survey of adult education (AE). This report deals with…

This technical report provides an updated assessment of the problem of optimizing the periodicity of the Schools and Staffing Survey (SASS). Making use of data from three rounds of SASS data collection (for school years 1987-88, 1990-91, and 1993-94), the report extends and updates the preliminary findings and interim assessments that were…

A study used data from the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study, Kindergarten Class of 1998-99 (ECLS-K) to answer the following questions: Which of the various reading instructional activities do kindergartners do most often? Who has opportunities to participate in the various types of instructional activities? and Are the various instructional…