This study utilized a quantitative research approach with a survey design to determine whether a sample of K-8 principals in the state of Illinois, that rated teachers in a set of classroom instructional videos, exhibited inter-rater reliability since they all received the Illinois state-approved training and certification for teacher evaluators.…

The focus on science, technology, engineering, and mathematics fields has noticeably increased in recent decades with the rapid growth in technology. Mathematical knowledge and competence is in many ways a gateway to scientific and technical development, and therefore careers (Prieto & Delgado, 2007). Unfortunately, national and international…

Retention is a significant challenge at small universities and therefore research in this area is needed. The purpose of this quantitative correlational-predictive study was to examine to what extent high school GPA, standardized college entrance exam scores, and grit (perseverance and consistency) predict first to second year student retention at…

Educators use various statistical techniques to explain relationships between latent and observable variables. One way to model these relationships is to use Bayesian networks as a scoring model. However, adjusting the conditional probability tables (CPT-parameters) to fit a set of observations is still a challenge when using Bayesian networks. A…

There is an increased demand on nursing faculty to provide quality teaching and assessment. Nursing faculty are required to ensure accurate assessment of learning through testing and outcome measurement that are critical elements of the evaluation process. Likewise, nursing faculty should implement a logical evaluation system. However, the…

The study established the validity and reliability of a weighted individual performance-based assessment tool within the utility scope of middle school orchestral strings. The following research questions guided this study: 1. What specific string-playing behaviors and corresponding criteria validate a weighted individual performance-based…

Concerns surrounding subscore use, which have traditionally been examined in large-scale educational testing programs (e.g., SAT, GRE)--namely, that "information obtained from subscores that seems intuitively useful may not contain additional information over and above the total score" (p. 2)--have been argued to apply equally to…

Twenty-first-century teachers enter the classroom amid ever-growing demands and increasingly complex learning environments. Because of this, it is critical that teachers develop the knowledge and skills needed to be effective classroom problem-solvers. As is the case with student problem-solving, metacognition has been shown to be helpful in…

Much of the research on the faculty experience has focused on productivity, engagement, satisfaction, and well-being; however, no instrument or theoretical framework that contributes to an understanding of a faculty member's optimal psychological functioning--or thriving--currently exists. The purpose of this study was to address this gap in the…

This qualitative study addresses secondary educator perceptions of Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) and student academic achievement. PBIS is a proactive approach with a multitiered framework. When used properly, PBIS can be a tool for school faculty to establish behavioral expectations and procedures, prevent disruptive…

Evidence of student growth is a primary outcome of interest for educational accountability systems. When three or more years of student test data are available, questions around how students grow and what their predicted growth is can be answered. Given that test scores contain measurement error, this error should be considered in growth and…

The proliferation of online learning during the past decade is believed to have addressed multiple challenges facing secondary and post-secondary educators, yet outcomes are still being weighed. This study of Alabama Agricultural Educators provided insights to the potential practice of online learning in agriculture education courses. Apart from…

Validity of a measurement refers to appropriate test score meanings, uses, and interpretations (Messick, 1989; Kane, 1992). There are different approaches to validity: an evidentiary aspect of validity is one requiring gathering statistical evidence to evaluate test score meaning. A common approach to validation is comparisons of test score equity…

Asian American college student success has traditionally been framed from a perspective of successful academic performance and degree completion that perpetuates the model minority stereotype and overlooks the actual challenges they may experience in college. Many bicultural Asian American students manage the individual and family acculturation…

The purpose of this study was to develop a reliable and valid Likert scaled instrument to predict adult non-high school degree holders who would perform well academically in a project-based learning (PBL) assessment environment to obtain their high school diploma as opposed to traditional standardized tests such as the General Educational…