In order to progress as a field, school psychology research must be informed by effective measurement techniques. One approach to address the need for careful measurement is Rasch analysis. This technique can (a) facilitate the development of instruments that provide useful data, (b) provide data that can be used confidently for both descriptive…

Survey sampling is fundamentally an applied field. The goal in this book is to put an array of tools at the fingertips of practitioners by explaining approaches long used by survey statisticians, illustrating how existing software can be used to solve survey problems, and developing some specialized software where needed. This book serves at least…

The authors examined the relations among teacher characteristics, contextual factors, and the recognition of self-regulated learning (SRL). Participants of the survey study were 172 elementary school teachers in the Brussels Capital Region and surrounding area (Belgium). The authors assessed the interrelations of several measures on personal…

A guide to survey research is presented for both novice and experienced researchers. Steps of the survey research process are covered: (1) planning the survey to determine the purpose of the study, collecting background information, designing the sample, and making a time line for completing the project; (2) questionnaire design, including the…

The methodology of using a mixed qualitative and quantitative research design to evaluate 16 "inclusive" preschool programs in a continuing study is detailed. The qualitative approach was used to understand the general phenomenon and integrated with more quantitative, structured, and precise measures in an iterative, sequential process to develop…

Stakeholder surveys are advocated as a panacea for many problems of needs assessment evaluation research utilizing surveys. Stakeholders are individuals who have a "stake" in the outcome of a needs assessment evaluation. Stakeholder surveys are appropriate for the predesign phase of a program evaluation. The surveys are often referred to…

A study investigated the effectiveness of a weighting procedure for adjusting survey results to correct for nonresponse bias. Using data from a Cooperative Institutional Research Program followup survey, results indicate that the procedure is highly effective in univariate distributions; its effectiveness in adjusting correlation and regression…

This study used multiple regression analysis to relate computer user satisfaction to communication monitor (CM) variables. Results indicate the variables of user expectations, manufacturers, and vendors are most significant in affecting overall satisfaction, whereas number of systems represented and not using communication monitors have least…

Studies conditions under which women and minorities were hired for managerial positions in higher education administration. Determines that odds of a new person hired being a woman or minority is positively affected if the previous employee in that position was a woman or minority. Finds that past segregation is among the leading influences on…

The current practice of teaching about East Asia in North Dakota schools was surveyed. From a list of 607 North Dakota social studies teachers, ranging from grades 7 to 12 in both public and private schools, a target sample of 266 teachers was administered a questionnaire. All regions of the states, with at least one teacher form each school, were…

The linking of research and action, basic methods of social research, and the uses of research in distance teaching are examined, with examples drawn from the Lesotho Distance Teaching Centre and other distance teaching programs. Ways in which research can be useful and early stages of research design and planning are discussed. An explanation of…

Technological advances in microcomputer hardware and software, including size of memory and increasingly more sophisticated statistical application packages, create a new era in educational research. The alternative to costly main-frame computer data processing and statistical analysis is explored in this paper. In the first section, typical…

This manual was produced to familiarize data users with the procedures followed in data collection and processing of the fifth follow-up survey of the National Longitudinal Survey of the High School Class of 1972 (NLS-72) and to provide documentation for use of the file. The data file is a computerized data base, which is available on magnetic…

The use of Relational Database Management Systems (RDBMS), a type of microcomputer application software, to analyze open-ended survey questions is discussed. Using open-ended questions allows researchers to ask respondents to express themselves freely about their attitudes and beliefs. This approach also can elicit a precise answer even though the…

This study was designed to identify and analyze the problems women face in the greater Kansas City, Missouri area. Six major topics were examined in order to determine the significant roles they played in the lives of these women. The topics were health, violence, family and child welfare issues, employment and finance, education, and quality of…