Never before in the history of the teaching profession has there been such a need for comprehensive evaluation of all teacher preparation programs, most especially professional development schools (PDSs). This need is driven not only by the pressures of the age of accountability, but also by the need for the PDS movement to act ethically and…

In most multi-campus studies of college impact that have been conducted over the past four decades, investigators have relied on ordinary least squares (OLS) regression as the analytic method of choice. Recently, however, some investigators have advocated the use of Hierarchical Linear Modeling (HLM), a method specifically designed for analyses…

The vast amount of research conducted on student persistence over the past thirty years is indicative of the continuing and evolving interest in retention of students. Framed through multiple perspectives, this retention research is driven by the fact that more students leave institutions without graduating, year after year. Much more than an…

Program reviews became widely used as quality assurance activities in the United States beginning in the 1970s. Since then, they have evolved as an essential component in demonstrating institutional effectiveness to accrediting bodies. The paper discusses various approaches to reviews with a focus on a recently reengineered institutional program…

An institutional research model used at Washington University is outlined and other practical suggestions are offered to financial aid administrators inclined to conduct similar research. The original study assessed the effects of loans on students after leaving school. (MSE)

Some ways in which research on student financial aid can be conducted and used to further institutional goals and objectives are presented. Four topics for inclusion in an institution's research agenda are suggested: recruiting, measuring the aid program's effectiveness, expanding aid resources, and analyzing family financial capacity. (Author/MSE)

Multiple program impact analysis was used to evaluate the overall effectiveness in programs for 11,766 first-year students at the University of Texas at Austin. The technique examines the relationship between involvement in multiple educational programs and selected educational outcomes. Among findings was that participation in more than one…

Comparative data are relatively easy to obtain, but effective use of the information requires careful planning and may produce unanticipated results. (MSE)

Analysis of limited research on evaluation of postgraduate scholarship programs looked at indicators used, focusing on the four most common: awarded diploma; obtained job; obtained related job; and pursuing studies. Several methodological pitfalls in comparing assessment results are identified. Overall, results tend to show scholarship programs…

ALTHOUGH COMMUNITY JUNIOR COLLEGES ARE PRIMARY LABORATORIES OF FORMAL HUMAN LEARNING, THERE IS A SURPRISING SCARCITY OF STUDIES OF THEIR INSTRUCTIONAL EFFECTIVENESS. LITERATURE AVAILABLE IN THE CLEARINGHOUSE FOR JUNIOR COLLEGE INFORMATION INCLUDES DESCRIPTIONS OF INSTRUCTIONAL PROCESSES AND OF INNOVATIVE ACTIVITIES, BUT LITTLE INFORMATION IS…

Since its founding in 1994, the Society for Social Work and Research (SSWR) has grown dramatically, in large part because of its annual conference featuring the best in social work research. SSWR's growth has also given rise to an appreciation for greater diversity in methods. Although disparities in research infrastructure (and procurement of…

The California Community Colleges (CCC) has implemented a prototype model for determining student transfer readiness as a primary means of assessing community college transfer effectiveness. This report provides definitions of transfer readiness and guidelines for colleges participating in the CCC transfer readiness study. First, a memorandum from…

The major objectives in the establishment of a clinic in a department of psychology are to provide a setting for clinical training and for clinical research. Five issues must be considered in order to evaluate a departmental clinic effectively. First, there should be prior specification of objectives and periodic restatement of goals that include…

This paper describes the activities and thoughts that went into the development and implementation of Brazosport College's institutional effectiveness (IE) model. The Community College Student Experiences Questionnaire (CCSEQ) was used to collect data on student satisfaction, and to provide constructs to use as outcome indicators for evaluating…

This book provides conceptual and practical strategies for the data and information collection and analysis needs of a diverse group of institutions, ranging from small rural community colleges to large urban research institutions. The model framework is designed for use by any size or type of institution and gives a broad overview of various…