The first article in this section, "Rating Scales and Shared Meaning," by Winifred A. Lopez, discusses the analysis of rating scale data. The second article, "Rating Scale Categories: Dichotomy, Double Dichotomy, and the Number Two," by Mark H. Stone, argues that dichotomies in rating scales are more useful than multiple…

This authoritative volume provides state-of-the-art practices for supporting the approximately 20% of today's K-12 students who have emotional and behavioral disorders (EBD) that hinder school success. Leading experts present evidence-based approaches to screening, progress monitoring, intervention, and instruction within a multi-tiered framework.…

In this collection, evaluation theorists and practitioners consider evaluator role and identity in evaluation theory, practice, and society. The chapters are: (1) "Three Frameworks for Considering Evaluator Role" (Jean A. King and Laurie Stevahn); (2) "Toward Better Understanding of Alternative Evaluator Roles" (Melvin M. Mark); (3) "Making (More)…

Discusses measuring changes in college student self-efficacy using the Rasch Model. (SLD)

Discusses the evaluation of medical rehabilitation outcomes using various measurement instruments. (SLD)

The two articles of this theme section consider problems of measurement in relation to games. "How Good was Bobby Fischer in 1992?" (John Michael Linacre) explores a Rasch analysis of the chess performance of Bobby Fischer, while "Objective Analysis of Golf" (Patrick Fisher) considers measurement problems presented by golf.…

Describing the state of the science of ABA, this comprehensive handbook provides detailed information about theory, research, and intervention. The contributors are leading ABA authorities who present current best practices in behavioral assessment and demonstrate evidence-based strategies for supporting positive behaviors and reducing problem…

Essays in this collection explore what a narrative perspective can mean for the practice of program evaluation. Narratives illuminate the value and meaning of a program or policy and can indicate the actions that need to be taken to improve it or to prevent failures in the future. The essays are: (1) "Introduction: Narrative Perspectives on…

This book, written by authors representing 12 countries and five continents, is a collection of international perspectives on distance learning and distance learning implementations in higher education. The perspectives are presented in the form of practical case studies of distance learning implementations, research studies on teaching and…

The collection of essays in this book illustrate commonalties and differences among the theories, practices, and forms of organization of participatory action research in different countries. Participatory action research expresses the recognition that all research methodologies are implicitly political in nature, and this is reflected in the…

In the past 5 years, a growing concern over the use of illicit drugs in the workplace has led to an interest in urinalysis as a way to detect and deter drug use. This monograph provides information that will assist those involved in the planning or implementation of drug testing programs in making informed choices. Articles include: (1)…

Four author-contributed papers examine issues in assessing child progress in early childhood special education. D. Bricker and S. Gumerlock present "A Three-Level Strategy" which features analysis of daily or weekly progress, analysis of progress toward long- and short-term objectives, and analysis of progress toward program goals. C.…

This inaugural volume of our Spotlight Series features recent "Harvard Education Letter" articles on testing and new reports never before published on this important topic. Contributors address such issues as how educators can manage the "avalanche" of tests; whether the benefits of high-stakes tests justify the risks to…

The five articles of this special section focus on the quantitative-qualitative debate in program evaluation. This section focuses on philosophical aspects of program evaluation, making it clear that the issues are far more complex than the simple quantitative-qualitative dichotomy described by T. S. Kuhn (1970) implies. (SLD)

In the field of computer aided language learning (CALL), there is a need for emphasizing the importance of the user. "User-Centered Computer Aided Language Learning" presents methodologies, strategies, and design approaches for building interfaces for a user-centered CALL environment, creating a deeper understanding of the opportunities and…