A comparison of the performance of children (ages 6-12) with visual impairments (n=15) and sighted children (n=15) on two tasks involving inferences found some differences between the two groups when the information was visual, but not when it was nonvisual. Visual impairment affected some aspects of a word association task. (Contains references.)…

This article discusses assumptions that have guided research on children with disabilities, which are to: draw on findings from other areas of research, use rigorous experimental methods, rely on systematic replications, be alert to serendipitous findings, and attend to trends and shifts in perspectives, but follow the data when drawing…

The Northwest Evaluation Association helped an Indiana school district develop a computerized adaptive testing system that was aligned with its curriculum and geared toward measuring individual student growth. Now the district can obtain such information from semester to semester and year to year, get immediate results, and test students on…

This article presents the concept of knowledge discovery, a process of searching for associations in large volumes of computer data, as an aid to creativity. It then discusses the various techniques in knowledge discovery. Mednick's associative theory of creative thought serves as the theoretical foundation for this research. (Contains…

Responds to Rubin and Knox's (1996) article concerning data analysis in single-case evaluations. Takes issue on three points: misrepresentation of single-case experimental designs, logical inconsistencies, and skewed portrayal of weaknesses existing in single case designs. Discusses possible reasons why single-case designs are often…

The question of validity, or how high-stakes tests are being used and interpreted, threatens to undermine the entire standards movement. Joint standards developed by three professional associations say decisions affecting students' life chances should not be based on test scores alone. Objectivity and teaching to tests are real concerns. (MLH)

This article discusses how interpretive research can challenge the special education field to think differently about what is already known and to factor in different ways of knowing and different meanings. Three dimensions of interpretive research are explored: "truth" value and accuracy, context and relations, and utility and relevance.…

The possibility of differential sex proportions as a confounding factor in the Lovaas (1987) study is raised. It is argued that the chi-square analysis was inadequate and that the appropriate comparison should be made between the experimental and the control group using population data to estimate expected cell frequencies. (Author/CR)

In three experiments, the authors investigated whether statistical language influences readers' interpretations of research results. Although the authors argue that "significant" language changes should not be mandated for quantitative research studies in scientific journals, if such changes are mandated, then use of the term "statistical" is…

Lists eight journal articles written by Charles Bunge that address the measurement of library reference effectiveness. Topics include determining goals; gathering data to determine effectiveness through user satisfaction; assessing reference output; costs and benefits; interpreting data; and the use of computerized forms to gather data. (LRW)

Citing the results of National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) exams, author disputes conclusion in Skrla and others article that Texas high-stakes accountability system significantly increased educational equity and social justice for racial minority students. (PKP)

Discusses family selection issues that should be considered in child care research, and evidence demonstrating why each should be considered. Issues include whether causal inferences can be made from observational studies and the impact on conclusions from regression analyses that include highly correlated measures of child care experiences,…

Describes a worksheet used by the author to help business communication students get the most out of a set of quantitative data. Describes how the worksheet walks students through a sequence of four activities (orientation, generalization, explanation, and exploration) that help them present and interpret visual data. Discusses benefits to…

Examines the definition, construction, and interpretation of social indicators. Shows how standard classes of formalisms used to construct models in contemporary sociology are derived from the general theory of models. Reviews recent model building and evaluation related to active life expectancy among the elderly, fertility rates, and indicators…

Describes a lesson that connects geography and mathematics in which students develop an understanding of large numbers. Students listen to a story about the number one million, cut and paste faces on tagboard to estimate one million, and use blocks to represent the population of each state in the United States. (CMK)