This paper examines the differences between multilevel modeling and weighted ordinary least squares (OLS) regression for analyzing data from the National Educational Longitudinal Study 1988 (NELS:88). The final sample consisted of 718 students in 298 schools. Eighteen variables from the NELS:88 dataset were used, with the dependent variable being…

Phenomenological research is defined and discussed in terms of its purpose and procedures. Phenomenology deals with subjective consciousness. Phenomenological research probes into the human experience to illuminate the complexity of individual perception. It is aimed at interpretive understanding. The general design for research consists of three…

In this paper the role of qualitative research in special education is examined. The implications of an earlier naturalistic study are cited, an important one being the tendency in the literature to oversimplify the naturalistic paradigm; and the case is made that implementing such a paradigm is a "labor intensive" approach to research…

Several aspects of interview research heretofore receiving little attention are discussed. A brief description of the different types of interview formats and levels of analysis is presented. Following a discussion of the problem of analyzing protocol data, some suggestions are offered about analysis procedures that derive from constructionist…

Activities of the Teacher Corps'"Corps Member Training Institute" (CMTI) were studied to illustrate methods of inquiry which can be adapted to the study of teacher training events to capture some of the reality of these events. For the CMTI, a Study Team was mandated to demonstrate the impact of the Institute (identify, document, judge,…

Research was conducted to provide educational researchers with a choice of pairwise multiple comparison procedures (P-MCPs) to use with single group repeated measures designs. The following were studied through two Monte Carlo (MC) simulations: (1) The T procedure of J. W. Tukey (1953); (2) a modification of Tukey's T (G. Keppel, 1973); (3) the…

A popular design in large-scale educational assessments is the balanced incomplete block design. The design assumes that the item pool is split into a set of blocks of items that are assigned to assessment booklets. This paper shows how the technique of 0-1 linear programming can be used to calculate a balanced incomplete block design. Several…

Discusses some practical issues in linking educational assessments, focusing on the importance of clarity of purpose when assessments are linked. Also stresses the importance of the design used to collect data for linking. Uses linking studies from a variety of situations to illustrate these points. (SLD)

Examined the effect of complex sampling of items on the measurement of differential item functioning (DIF) using the Mantel-Haenszel procedure through a Monte Carlo study. Suggests the superiority of the pooled booklet method when items are selected for examinees according to a balanced incomplete block design. Discusses implications for other DIF…

Researchers frequently deal with data that are cyclical in nature. This paper presents a methodological procedure that can be used to determine if a roller-coaster effect exists in repeated measures data. The procedure incorporates three key components. First, the researcher may find it necessary to analyze each participant's data set separately…

Factorial analyses differ from nonfactorial analyses in that in the former all possible hypotheses (all possible main effects and interaction effects) are tested regardless of their substantive interest to the researcher and their interpretability, while in the latter, only substantive and interpretable hypotheses are tested. This paper shows the…

Similarities and differences in the univariate and multivariate analysis of repeated measures designs are discussed, using a hypothetical data set studying the effects of practice on the algebra performance of four students to illustrate both methods. When data are analyzed through the univariate approach and the homogeneity assumption is…

Analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) is a data analysis method that is often used to control extraneous sources of variation in non-equivalent group designs. It is commonly believed that as long as the covariate is highly correlated with the dependent variable there is nothing to lose in using ANCOVA, even in non-randomized studies. This paper examines…

Intended to evoke discussion in the research community about the research trend of the 21st century, this paper provides a broad, general definition of qualitative research that covers the many terms currently used under this heading, and discusses seven issues that the research community should address in some manner: (1) new or fad; (2) too many…

This paper focuses on the organizational group, noting the lack of an integrated theoretical base, describing the nature of group behavior theories, and suggesting the employment of a metatheory framework to improve both the theoretical integration and the practical application of group behavior research. The paper first considers four general…