This paper intends to construct a survey data quality strategy for institutional researchers in higher education in light of total survey error theory. It starts with describing the characteristics of institutional research and identifying the gaps in literature regarding survey data quality issues in institutional research. Then it is followed by…

Two investigations examined whether incentives increase the number of survey returns from former students and whether ideographic characteristics, incentives, and multiple mail-outs influence the perceptions of respondents. Survey responses of 125 (Study 1) and 67 (Study 2) baccalaureate graduates in education were used. The survey included 43…

After the terms "qualitative research" and "quantitative research" are defined, this paper considers why it makes sense to integrate these approaches, at least under some circumstances. This discussion necessitates attention to the issue of whether quantitative and qualitative research are inextricably linked to incompatible…

This paper describes seven studies (all that could be found on the subject) comparing nine respondent selection procedures with regard to their potential to reduce refusal rates and to increase representativeness of samples; particular concerns are underrepresentation of men and multiple-adult households. The paper states that (1) the seven…

This paper investigates the utility of various procedures used to locate and interview veterans as part of a longitudinal research study being conducted for the Department of Defense. The populations are comprised of below entry aptitude standards males who entered the military during the late 1960s, and potentially ineligibles who entered between…

A pilot study to ascertain the most cost-efficient and statistically reliable way of obtaining data on drug use by means of the telephone was conducted. Typically, surveys of sensitive or stigmatizing information have been contaminated by an unknown amount of error due to evasive or incorrect responses. The randomized response technique, which…

Levin's (1975) sample-size determination procedure for completely randomized analysis of variance designs is extended to designs in which antecedent or blocking variables information is considered. In particular, a researcher's choice of designs is framed in terms of determining the respective sample sizes necessary to detect specified contrasts…

Norm-referenced tests yield information regarding a student's performance in comparison to a norm or average of performance by similar students. Norms are statistics that describe the test performance of a well-defined population. The process of constructing norms, called norming, is explored briefly in this paper. Some of the most widely reported…

Although videotape is the preferred method for recording behavior, there are many natural settings in which it is impractical or too intrusive. The ability to collect data in such settings and in real time has been enhanced by the advent of light, powerful laptop computers. This poster (with paper) describes a set of eight programs (developed in…

Since the telephone interview is often used as a method in survey research, a study was conducted to determine whether use of random digit dialing and sampling by surnames resulted in selection of two different samples from the same ethnic population. A random digit dialing technique was used to conduct interviews with 1,076 Texas residents over…

The research reported includes a profile of all sixty ThinkAbout programs with respect to demographic balance, personal/social behaviors portrayed by major characters, and value-laden content. The profile is a summation across a 5-stage content analysis which was integrated with other formative evaluation techniques in the three year ThinkAbout…

The Research on the Improvement Process (RIP) Program of the Research and Development Center for Teacher Education has made the investigation of the change process in high schools their primary research priority for the 1980s. In this paper, the high school research endeavors of the RIP program are described, with special attention being given to…

Possible bias due to sampling problems or low response rates has been a troubling "nuisance" variable in empirical research since seminal and classical studies were done on these problems at the beginning of this century. Recent research suggests that: (1) earlier views of the alleged bias problem were misleading; (2) under a variety of fairly…

Parametric analysis of covariance was compared to analysis of covariance with data transformed using ranks. Using a computer simulation approach the two strategies were compared in terms of the proportion of Type I errors made and statistical power when the conditional distribution of errors were: (1) normal and homoscedastic, (2) normal and…

Discriminant analysis is reviewed in terms of: (1) formulations, (2) interpretations, (3) uses, (4) issues and problems in applications, (5) recent developments and conceptualizations, and (6) general references and computer programs. Four aspects of a discriminant analysis are considered. They are: (1) separation: determining intergroup…