Identifies and explains some of the crucial elements of team research and data analysis, points out common pitfalls, and makes some helpful suggestions. Sections include general recommendations and communicating in statistical language. (ZWH)

Empirically developed multivariate categorization scheme for classifying clients' presenting problems. Counseling clients (n=611) completed Computerized Assessment System for Psychotherapy Evaluation and Research. Identified nine clusters of clients with different types of presenting problems that were stable across subsamples. (Author/NB)

Describes an activity for computing the volume of water in a blanket of snow, focusing on measuring and controlling variables, and then using critical thinking skills to analyze data. (HTH)

Describes how the statistical technique of meta-analysis can be used to help resolve conflicting studies in social sciences. (ZWH)

Examines statistical models utilized in earlier studies and attempts to reanalyze the International Association for the Evaluation of Educational Achievement (IEA) reading achievement data for England using a covariance structure model. Shows that, with an appropriate model, school variables do significantly account for reading achievement scores,…

A latent-class scaling approach is presented for modeling paired comparison and "pick any/t" data obtained in preference studies. The utility of this approach is demonstrated through analysis of data from studies involving consumer preference and preference for political candidates. (SLD)

Discussion of educational evaluation focuses on five topics critical to evaluating adaptive learning environment systems: (1) the system being evaluated; (2) standards, both engineering standards and standards for assessing learning outcomes such as task transfer; (3) gathering appropriate data; (4) processes for gathering data; and (5) rules for…

Presents an activity that involves the collection and analysis of biological data, research into the social and medical history of a community, and the development of skills in oral and written communication. (DDR)

Analyzes the application of levels of deficits or supports in the classification of mental retardation in published research. Analysis of data from three professional journals indicated that the supports model of classification has had no significant impact in subject descriptions reported in mental-retardation research. Implications for teacher…

Explores the course of treatment, risk factors, and drug-related issues among ethnically diverse pregnant women (N=192) who were actively using drugs at admission to a residential treatment program. Findings reveal that the course of treatment is more difficult for comorbid clients who perceived more treatment barriers than noncomorbid clients.…

Focuses on ethical issues that can arise in the collection and analysis of data in evaluations. Addresses four issues: (1) the application of cost-benefit thinking to judgments about research ethics, (2) the quality of research design, (3) the need to explore the data, and (4) the censoring of data. (Author/SLD)

The Correct Information Unity analysis for measuring the communicative information and efficiency of connected speech was applied to the naturally occurring conversation of a person with moderate aphasia. Results indicated low intrarater and interrater reliability although reliability of word counts was good. Most rater disagreements resulted from…

Acoustic data for 26 typically speaking 9 to 15 year olds for the /s/ frication were collected and evaluated. Analysis of the reference data set indicated that acoustic characterization of /s/ is appropriately and optimally obtained from the midpoint of /s/, represented in linear scale, referenced to individual linguistic-phonetic contexts,…

This study evaluated the accuracy of automated methods of grammatical categorization ("tagging") of transcribed conversational language samples from 30 normally developing children. On a word-by-word basis, automated accuracy levels averaged 95.1%; accuracy of tagging whole utterances averaged 77.7%. Results suggest that further improvement of…

The Tell-Me-a-Story (TEMAS) is analyzed, reviewed, and critiqued with regard to theoretical underpinnings and rationale for development, administration, scoring, psychometric properties, and research to date. TEMAS has evidence of reliability and validity, and may achieve more accurate assessment of Black and Hispanic children. Limitations of the…