Since its inception, the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) has been committed to the practice of documenting its statistical methods for its customers and of seeking to avoid misinterpretation of its published data. The reason for this policy is to assure customers that proper statistical standards and techniques have been observed,…

This paper describes empirically tested strategies for containing mailed questionnaire costs while maximizing survey response rates. Survey focus, critical to gaining respondent interest and completion of the survey instrument, should be selected on the basis of the theme of the study in order to reduce survey length and yield more in-depth and…

This article presents a fairly quick, easy way to decide what size sample is needed for a survey, given a desired level of confidence and degree of accuracy. The method proposed will work on any multiple response instrument. A technical mathematical explanation is also included. (GK)

Some statistical considerations in applying survey sampling methods to small populations are explored. (DS)

A guide to survey research is presented for both novice and experienced researchers. Steps of the survey research process are covered: (1) planning the survey to determine the purpose of the study, collecting background information, designing the sample, and making a time line for completing the project; (2) questionnaire design, including the…

Chapter 1 of this report and user's manual describes design and implementation of the 1992 National Adult Literacy Survey (NALS). Chapter 2 reviews stages of sampling for national and state survey components; presents weighted and unweighted response rates for the household component; and describes non-incentive and prison sample designs. Chapter…

This handbook is an effort to establish current and consistent terms, definitions, and classification codes to maintain, collect, report, and exchange comparable information about students. It is a reference guide to those concerned with the collection of student data. Definitions reflect a consensus about best practice in the field of education…

This handbook establishes current and consistent terms, definitions, and classification codes to maintain, collect, report, and exchange comparable information about students. The handbook is useful to public and private agencies and educational institutions, researchers, policy makers, and members of the public interested in student data. The…

A simple approach to cost-benefit analysis of industrial training is presented that uses easily obtainable data. Results regarding the social rate of return to company training suggest a shift of resources from individuals to companies. Comparisons between returns to company training and to institutional training are also presented. (MD)

This report contains the 2002 revised statistical standards and guidelines for the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), the principal statistical agency within the U.S. Department of Education. The primary goal is to provide high quality, reliable, useful, and informative statistical information to public policy decision-makers and to…

This chartbook is designed as a graphic reference on national statistical information about disabilities. Each page contains a content question, explanatory text, and an explanatory chart or table as well as information on sources used. Key terms are shown in boldface and defined in a glossary. Section 1 provides demographic data on Americans with…

The result of a pilot study funded by the Library Services and Construction Act (LSCA), this document is both a report of a test of adaptations of "Output Measures for Public Libraries" for the measurement of children's services in Wisconsin public libraries, and a manual for children's librarians to use for future data collection. The…

This report explains the output of a computer program which was developed for use by media specialists in calculating the statistics on data gathered from PSES questionnaires, as well as the computer program itself. Written in PASCAL, this program computes descriptive statistics, a bar graph, and percentages for the PSES instrument. Appendices…

This report explains the output of a computer program which was developed for use by media specialists in calculating the statistics on data gathered from PSES questionnaires, as well as the computer program itself. Written in PASCAL, this program computes descriptive statistics, a bar graph, and percentages for the PSES instrument. Appendices…

The linking of research and action, basic methods of social research, and the uses of research in distance teaching are examined, with examples drawn from the Lesotho Distance Teaching Centre and other distance teaching programs. Ways in which research can be useful and early stages of research design and planning are discussed. An explanation of…