This book is intended to give teacher education students and practicing teachers an introduction to research methods and does so by following the procedures and results of a recent study. Chapter 1 discusses the research problem and the procedures for setting up a research design. Chapter 2 discusses the major stages of field work. Chapter 3…

Presents guidelines prepared by Department of Justice Management Division staff to provide an understanding of the rules of evidence as they apply to electronically filed records and ensure that appropriate agency procedures are instituted in creating and maintaining such records. Hearsay, authentication, and the laying of a proper foundation are…

Discusses the validity and reliability of using food records and recalls when measuring dietary intake and eating behaviors of children, noting the advantages of collecting dietary data in a school environment. The article explains the appropriate use of food records and describes how to improve the method. (SM)

This manual provides a step-by-step methodology for promoting community participation in improving learning in local schools. The Civic Engagement for Education Reform in Central America (CERCA) School Report Card (SRC) approach empowers local school communities to gather information on the quality and conditions of teaching and learning in their…

For individuals or groups interested in developing a comprehensive community plan to address the problems of teenage pregnancy and parenthood, this paper provides a process built around a community diagnostic conference, for mobilizing local decision makers. The process is divided into these six phases, which are discussed separately: (1)…

This manual describes a new coding technique to be used in training and supervising interviewers. Section A contains a brief description of the system, including information about its development and the rationale underlying the procedures, the purposes for which it is intended, and the ways in which it has been used. Section B contains…

In this booklet, the New York State Department of Education's approach to the evaluation of categorically aided projects is described. It is stated that in recent years, the emphasis has been on structuring the content of data and limiting it to factors which are comparable and useful at local, State and Federal levels. Measurement procedures…

This manual is designed to assist personnel involved in work with the Stanford Research Institute (SRI) Follow Through Evaluation testing program. Follow Through is a number of planned education programs for children in kindergarten and primary grades (1-3). Job descriptions for each person working in the testing program are included. In addition,…

Provided are a procedural manual and a workbook for in-progress and post-assessment training of instructional supervisory competencies in special education. Five evaluation instruments are described, and directions for completing the instruments at the in-progress and post-assessment phases are given. Step-by-step procedures for analyzing…

The meaning of evaluation and the steps necessary to implement it are explained to parents in this booklet. The purposes and methods of evaluating student progress, teacher capability, programs, and school and community goals are related to improvement of the educational experience as a whole. Decision making is always a result of the data…

The purpose of this manual is to assist in the collection of data needed by state agencies in order to comply with pertinent statutes, particularly the current appropriations act. The four parts of the manual are: Introduction; Reporting Schedule (Semester Reporting Schedule, Quarterly Reporting Schedule, End of Fiscal Year, Summary Reports);…

In addition to some general and basic principles regarding the importance of an acceptable accountability system, a number of specific criteria for evaluating state accountability programs is provided. The stated purposes of such a system and the specific uses of the resulting data should be clear and concise. Local control must be retained and…

The first task force meeting, co-organized by the Center for Education Statistics and CCSSO, was convened in Alexandria, Virginia, on March 13?15, 1988. The purpose of this meeting was to explore alternative strategies for a cooperative federal-state education statistics program that would be broad in scope, encompassing the Common Core of Data…

Describes the elements required for a well-designed questionnaire, including appearance, question writing, organization, and cover letter. A checklist for effective questionnaire design is provided, as well as seven references. (BK)

The purposes of this handbook are to provide a comprehensive guide to standard terminology relating to property (sites, buildings, and equipment) used in education, a list of suggested data items useful in describing property, general data items useful in describing property, and general guidelines that can assist the reader in understanding and…