Recent developments in econometrics that are relevant to the task of estimating costs in higher education are reviewed. The relative effectiveness of alternative statistical procedures for estimating costs are also tested. Statistical cost estimation involves three basic parts: a model, a data set, and an estimation procedure. Actual data are used…

This manual was produced to familiarize data users with the procedures followed in data collection and processing of the fifth follow-up survey of the National Longitudinal Survey of the High School Class of 1972 (NLS-72) and to provide documentation for use of the file. The data file is a computerized data base, which is available on magnetic…

This manual was designed to help educators collect both general and specific information regarding labor market conditions within their community. Such information can be used to design employment training programs that will serve the needs of local employers as well as provide more information regarding employment opportunities for students…

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the use of log-linear models in detecting test item bias. The evaluation of the log-linear approach in this regard will focussed on the following: (1) the stability of the procedure across replications--the effect of sampling error across random samples of ethnic groups; (2) the amount of artifactual…

This study was designed to provide insight regarding the psychological repercussions for students who repeatedly fail the Georgia Basic Skills Test (GBST), but are not identified as educationally handicapped. This criterion referenced test is designed to assess competency on designated minimum skills. A random sample of tenth graders were…

This investigation used data from the 28-year-old New York Longitudinal Study to examine the relationship between various negative emotional and behavioral characteristics (e.g., aggression, anxiety, undercompliance, depressive mood) and adjustment. A total of 133 white, middle-class children were rated on these negative characteristics from…

In order to assess the quantity and quality of equitable access to computers in Wisconsin public schools, teachers' perceptions, opinions, and attitudes about instructional computing were examined during the 1984-1985 school year. Questionnaires containing closed- and open-ended questions were mailed to all 510 sixth-grade teachers in K-6…

A sample of 234 fifth- and 259 sixth-grade students scaled the items of the Piers-Harris, Tennessee, Coopersmith, and Lipsett self-concept measures. The scaling of the Piers-Harris and the Tennessee inventories was examined in reference to their subscales. The present technique placed items on a bivariate plane of two orthogonal dimensions…

The effects of varying degrees of correlation between abilities and of various correlation configurations between item parameters on ability and item parameter estimation using the three parameter logistic model were examined. Ten two-trait configurations and one unidimensional test configuration for 30 item tests were simulated. Each…

The use of Relational Database Management Systems (RDBMS), a type of microcomputer application software, to analyze open-ended survey questions is discussed. Using open-ended questions allows researchers to ask respondents to express themselves freely about their attitudes and beliefs. This approach also can elicit a precise answer even though the…

To assess the effects of correlated abilities on test characteristics, and to explore the effects of correlated abilities on the use of a multidimensional item response theory model which does not explicitly account for such a correlation, two tests were constructed. One had two relatively unidimensional subsets of items, the other had all…

Questionnaires were sent to 116 newly appointed reference librarians at academic institutions regarding the extent, content, and evaluation of their introductory training for their new positions. The majority of respondents indicated lack of overall planning and content depth in their training. (Author/EM)

Tested the hypothesis that the vocabulary of a discipline emphasizing concrete phenomena will have fewer synonyms per concept than vocabulary of a discipline emphasizing abstract phenomena. Although concreteness and abstractness of a discipline were found to be contributing factors in terminological consistency, at least one other factor exerts…

Reports results of a pilot study and full survey of preservation/conservation concerns about the non-rare book collections at the Syracuse University libraries. The methodology is described, including physical characteristics of the collections that were examined and statistical analyses used. (CLB)

Using National Longitudinal Survey data for 1966-68 and 1979, this study explores possible differences between Black and White, and male and female, youths' educational and occupational goals and determines whether these differences have changed. Not only were occupational and educational goals related, but sex and race differences do exist and…