This study attempted to identify desirable mail questionnaire characteristics as perceived by those who conduct successful surveys (those with a high return rate) of teacher education program graduates. The data pool consisted of 80 questionnaires completed by individuals at teacher education institutions nationwide. Eighteen items were perceived…

This study attempted to identify the skills, knowledge, and attitudes that parents of children in bilingual education programs believe are important for them to play a meaningful role in their children's education. Parent training models, some created specifically for use with language minority parents, have not resulted in increased parent…

Results of two studies, involving surveys of alumni of postsecondary institutions, are presented to assess the effect of format and typeface on mail survey response rates. The first study focused on the effect of booklet/folder format versus stapled sheets. The method of reproduction, page content, page size, and appearance of the questionnaires…

This report presents findings of the 1988 Educational Research Service survey of teacher evaluation practices and procedures in U.S. schools. The survey instrument was mailed to a random sample of 1,730 superintendents of school districts of varying size. The response rate was 52.5 percent. The first section discusses the purposes of teacher…

Two investigations, each involving a survey of university alumni, found that questionnaire type font (conventional typewriter type and professional-appearing type) and construction (single pages, stapled, and booklet) did not have a significant effect on response rates. Other considerations that may influence questionnaire design decisions are…

Offers a framework for conceptualizing the events that follow adoption of innovation. Surveys of home users of microcomputers are described that examined three outcomes of adoption: (1) degree of usage; (2) satisfaction; and (3) attitude toward the technology. Variations in the outcomes are examined, and further research needs are suggested. (46…

Reports on political attitudes and behavior of 85 1960s college students, previously surveyed in 1971. Finds that, while former student activists, student government leaders, and noninvolved students had all become more conservative in the 1980s, attitudinal differences among groups had not diminished. Contains 20 references. (SV)

Discusses results of a survey of 15 educational software developers, which indicate that none of the companies perform any empirical evaluation of their products as part of the development process. Importance and advantages of validation of the effectiveness of a program are considered, and suggestions for encouraging such validation are offered.…

A QuickBASIC program is described that can be used to conduct Dunnett-like comparisons on a set of independent proportions. The statistical method used, based on Levy's statistical method (1975), is an extension of the well-known Dunnett test for multiple comparisons on means. (Author/SLD)

Surveyed South Dakota school administrators' opinions about school choice. The slight majority (55 percent) of school superintendents were opposed; high school principals were divided (50 percent for and 50 percent against); and junior high/middle school and elementary school principals favored the concept with a 53 percent majority by each group.…

A metanalysis involving 62 studies compared the response rate to mailed surveys with and without a monetary gratuity. The average response rate increased 19% when a gratuity was enclosed. Other findings that substantiate that the external validity of surveys can be increased by gratuities are discussed. (SLD)

A survey of 86 Internet providers in 38 countries found that, although Internet providers felt they had the most control over material accessed, more than half do not censor content. Respondents indicated that some regulation may be necessary, but the cultural diversity in the world will make it difficult to implement. (PEN)

In this article, the author discusses an e-mail survey of principals from across the country regarding whether or not their school had a formal staff dress code. The results indicate that most did not have a formal dress code, but agreed that professional dress for teachers was not only necessary, but showed respect for the school and had a…

This short article explores the issue of whether teachers in colleges are being selected or directed to assume mentoring responsibilities with regard to one full time, pre-service, PCET ITE course, and whether any links are discernible between their attitudes to mentoring and the origins of their involvement in the activity. There is a particular…

The goals of this case study were to: (1) determine the efficiency and effectiveness of three survey methods--postal mail survey, web-based survey, and random in-class administration survey--in assessing tobacco-related attitudes and behaviors among college students and (2) compare the response rate and procedures of these three methods. There was…