A rural Pennsylvania district is attempting to become a data-driven decision-maker, based on a cross-section of student voices. For the past 21/2 years, the superintendent and his assistant have walked through their buildings culling data from short personal conversations with students about what skills they were learning and applying. (MLH)

A data-management system adhering to seven principles (concerned with defining and measuring characteristics and their interrelationships) is feasible and exists in parts, if not as an integrated whole. Present data-collection and reportage systems lack the real-time, analytic longitudinal characteristics that contemporary technology promises and…

A review of eight studies investigated the life quality of people caring for a relative with a severe disability within their family. An analysis of both qualitative and quantitative data indicate that primary caregivers are at considerable risk of high stress, clinical depression, and abnormally low subjective quality of life. (Contains…

Used 4 experimental conditions to examine the effectiveness of different instructional ratios of known to unknown vocabulary words on the reading progress of 46 students. Results suggest that students acquired new information as instructional ratios expanded. An inverse relationship was established between instructional material presented and…

Examines data from a think-aloud study and explores how randomly selected undergraduates react to "extreme" intensifiers and hedges. Results indicate that think-aloud data can within limits provide valid evidence of attention to specific words, and that there is a need to distinguish between attending to a word and using it to formulate…

This paper recommends use of analysis of covariance in early intervention research to account for pretreatment group differences and increase statistical power. Diagrams show how analysis of covariance manipulates data under various conditions. Simulated data analysis demonstrates the process of selecting covariates and shows the results with and…

A survey of 15 developers of computerized real-time observation systems found many systems have incorporated laptop or handheld computers as well as bar-code scanners. Most systems used IBM-compatible software, and ranged from free to complete systems costing more than $1,500. Data analysis programs were included with most programs. (Author/CR)

Uses a study of an Australian Extended Stay Outdoor Education School Program as an example to examine the rationale and methodology for conducting outdoor education research. Discusses qualitative versus quantitative methods; case studies; location and arrangements; conducting of interviews; data transcription; type of analysis (grounded theory…

Discusses a computer system that has given users the ability to generate their own reports and analyze data, revolutionizing institutional research at the University of Memphis. (EV)

Describes how latex-based creatures are made and used to explore various topics in inquiry-based middle school science. Provides a variety of sample data and includes sections on safety concerns and chemistry notes for the teacher. (DDR)

Provides details on the instrument development, sample design, data collection, and data analysis procedures of the 1996 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) long-term trend and main assessments for the United States. (Author/SLD)

Examines common assumptions about the rationality or irrationality of organizational behavior and finds that decision making occurs in a complex context that successful college/university institutional research offices must recognize and work with. Finds that emerging organizational theories suggest there are limitations on the use of data and…

Investigates the relations among consultant and consultee verbalizations and behavioral consultation treatment outcomes. The study consisted of analyses of a database generated from three behavioral consultation training grants which included 25 graduate student consultants, 26 teacher consultees, and 102 children with emotional disabilities…

Discusses the role of the academic dean and its conflicting pressures of administration and scholarship. Reports on the first phase of a study exploring the sources of stress experienced by 825 deans in both Australia and the United States. Analyzes findings in terms of a four-component managerial stress model and provides tables detailing deans'…

Discusses the analytical problems that research on the academic profession must address and summarizes recent trends and debates. Suggests possible future developments in the context of four scenarios: "key profession,""academic work,""mediator," and "antiquity." Findings of the International Study on the Academic Profession are discussed in the…