Tests the premise of peer cluster theory as it applies to individual alcohol use, and makes a comparative analysis between its ability to explain alcohol use and marijuana use among college students (N=1312). Results of the causal models show some support for peer cluster theory. Discusses the study's limitations and implications. (Author/MKA)

This essay argues that reliability should be reconceptualized in a way that reflects the importance of the theoretical expectations of the test specialist and the learning and problem solving of the test takers. It is time to characterize clearly the substantive theoretical framework supporting reliability studies and the technical evaluation of…

Review of research using data from five British national demographic surveys showed that secondary analyses occurred less often in education; such analyses focused on the effect of educational qualifications on employment; and some data remain relatively unexploited. (SK)

This longitudinal study with 62 children and adolescents examined the validity of the consolidation/transition model in the context of moral reasoning development. Results of standard statistical and Bayesian techniques supported the hypotheses regarding cyclical patterns of change and predictors of stage transition, and demonstrated the utility…

Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) was used to provide an organizational framework for data collected from an entering class of students (N=1,912). Results from the EFA indicated that items on surveys could be grouped into dimensions that can be used to plan student services. Factors that emerged included: Religion/Spirituality, Help Seeking,…

Interactive digital video enables computer visualization techniques that help students to collect, analyze, and model two-dimensional motion data. This article describes and evaluates five activities developed for the physics classroom with the use of this technology in mind. Activities explore concepts such as space, time, frames of reference,…

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)