In this intact-groups, quasi-experimental study, 115 unemployed job seekers who utilized federally funded labour market interventions were compared on program usage (long- or short-term), personality, personal meaning, employability skills, job search length, and pain and suffering. Results did not find significant differences in program usage or…

Although many correctional education studies have identified various treatment programs as being effective for reducing recidivism, few, if any, of these studies appear to be above reproach when assessing their methodological vigor. This paper highlights the shortcomings in the current post-treatment quasi-experimental design primarily used to…

Nationally, there is continuing debate about appropriate methods for conducting educational evaluations. The U.S. Department of Education has placed a priority on "scientifically" based evaluation methods and has advocated a "gold standard" of randomized controlled experimentation. The priority suggests that randomized control methods are best,…

This study used a pretest-posttest, nonequivalent control group, quasi-experimental design to examine the effectiveness of a 12-week, metacognitive and planned happenstance career training course for Taiwanese college students. The treatment groups significantly increased their career competencies in metacognitive, cognitive, affective, and…

Two specific methods of analysis in large-scale evaluations are considered: structural equation modeling and selection modeling/analysis of non-equivalent control group designs. Their utility in large-scale educational program evaluation is discussed. The examination of these methodological developments indicates how people (evaluators,…

Three topics within the domain of regression-based analyses of multilevel data from quasi-experiments and field studies in educational research and evaluation are presented. The paper begins with a discussion of the general question of choice of unit of analysis, or what may be the more appropriate question of choice of analytical model. It then…

Alternative designs for educational research are explored to improve the external validity of educational research and broaden its scope to include not only the systematic experiments that identify psychological mechanisms but also representative designs that match the complexity of learning behavior in school. (JH)

Statistical procedures of the regression discontinuity and regression projection designs were compared to determine which design was more able to detect treatment effect in remedial or gifted programs. Neither test was more precise in all situations. Tables list the more precise test usder specific conditions. The regression projection model…

Causal models often omit variables that should be included, use variables that are measured fallibly, and ignore time lags. Such practices can lead to severely biased estimates of effects. The discussion explains these biases and shows how to take them into account. (Author)

A simple quasi-experimental design is described which may have utility in a variety of applied and laboratory research settings where ordinarily the one-group pretest-posttest pre-experimental design might otherwise be the procedure of choice. The design approaches the internal validity of true experimental designs while optimizing external…

The general class of continuous growth models are described and examples representative of growth models suggested for various types of academic and/or physical growth are given. The fan spread hypothesis is discussed in relationship to natural growth models, as well as differential linear growth. (PN)

Argues that the routine use of experimental or quasi experimental designs in educational research often constrains the value of its conclusions. Also critizes educational research for its atheoretical nature and its paucity of conceptual frameworks. (GC)

LISREL V computer program is applied to a weak quasi-experimental design involving the Head Start program, as a multiple analysis attempt to assure that differences between nonequivalent control groups do not confound interpretation of a posteriori differences. (PN)

A nonequivalent control group design was used to assess effects of a law-related education (LRE) program on elementary school children's attitudes toward the law. Results indicated that knowledge gained about the law did not necessarily correlate positively with more favorable attitudes toward the law. (Author/DB)