Nedelsky (1954) has suggested a procedure for determining the minimum passing score on a multiple-choice test. In this procedure expert judges estimate the probable score of a minimally competent examinee. The technique does not refer to the students' performance data. The purposes of this paper are: (1) to introduce a modification to the Nedelsky…

The higher education community needs measures of the value added to student development by the college experience. The American College Testing Program (ACT) provides a quick, easy method for estimating the extent of student growth in general education. An institution can test seniors with the ACT College Outcome Measures Project (COMP) exam, then…

This study was an examination of the usefulness of a statistical regression approach to identify prospective Engineering and Information and Computer Science (ICS) applicants most likely to succeed at the University of California at Irvine (UCI). The specific purpose was to determine the extent to which preadmissions measures such as high school…

The 3-year project developed self-instructional programs and evaluated parent use of these programs (approximately 185 families) to improve behavior problems of their handicapped children, aged 3 to 9. The project's format included five goals (e.g., determination of the degree to which parents can treat behavioral problems without professional…

To compile its projections of future employment levels, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) combines the following five interlinked models in a six-step process: a labor force model, an econometric model of the U.S. economy, an industry activity model, an industry labor demand model, and an occupational labor demand model. The BLS was asked to…

The value-added model is presented as a method of assessing the impact of treatments in pretest-posttest quasi-experimental designs. The model yields a projection of treatment group performance at posttest time with no special treatment. The difference between the expected result and the actual outcome is "the value added," a measure of…

In 11 chapters with 54 data tables and 29 diagrams, the author discusses the theory, problems, and uses of educational indicators. He defines educational indicators as characteristics that point, with more or less exactness, to general or overall aspects of an educational system. Chapter 1 examines the concept of an educational indicator and the…

Technical notes concerning the Survey of Income and Education (SIE), April-July 1976, which was conducted by the Bureau of the Census for the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare, are presented. Information is presented on the source of the data, sample design, estimation procedure, reliability of the estimates, nonsampling variability,…

THIS REPORT DESCRIBES THE INITIAL VALIDATION OF PERFORMANCE TESTS OF TEACHER EFFECTIVENESS--USING PUPIL GAINS AS THE CRITERION OF EFFECTIVENESS--AND THE STEPS TAKEN IN RECOGNITION OF THE PROPRIETY OF SUCH MEASURES ONLY IF ALL TEACHERS ARE TEACHING FOR THE SAME OBJECTIVES. AS A FIRST STEP, IT WAS HYPOTHESIZED THAT A VALID PERFORMANCE TEST OF…

The generalizability of earlier findings on training objectives for military specialties was studied. Thirteen tasks or jobs, involving mechanical, electrical, general, or administrative aptitude, were rated by senior noncommissioned officers on: recommended field training emphaisi; present school emphasis; consequences of inadequate job…

Synthetic estimation is a statistical technique that estimates small-area statistics by combining national estimates of the relevant characteristics with estimates of other known characteristics of the small geographic area. The advantages of the synthetic estimation approach to local estimation are its intuitive appeal, its simplicity, and its…

In considering the apparent failure of the two major compensatory education programs, Project Head Start and Title I, there are so many uncontrolled variables interacting simultaneously that it is virtually impossible to define the specific etiological factors engendering the results obtained. The Federal programs are difficult to evaluate because…

Evaluation roles used in the Department of Research and Development in the Cincinnati Public Schools are identified and described. These include: project evaluator, local-school evaluator, independent program evaluator, external evaluator and external auditors. The merits of each evaluation role will be discussed as to its relationship with…

Three common methodological problems in the analysis of observational data include: (1) failure to base degrees of freedom for the analysis on the appropriate sampling unit; (2) the validity of the design and data are inconsistent with the generalizations reached; (3) the statistic used to calculate coder reliability is often inappropriate and…

The major purpose of this study is to further the development of procedures which minimize current limitations of creativity instruments, thus yielding a reliable and functional means for assessing creativity. Computerized content analysis and multiple regression are employed to simulate the creativity ratings of trained judges. The computerized…