Valerie Wright
St. Leo University

Ann E. Barron
University of South Florida

Jeffrey D. Kromrey
University of South Florida

Abstract

The Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test (8th Grade Reading): A Staff Development Tool is a large, instructional website that is designed to help t4eacherrs prepare students for a high-stakes test. It was designed and developed by graduate students and staff of the Florida Center for Instructional Technology at the University of South Florida. This article provides information on the analysis, design, and development of the interactive website. Results from an evaluation study with 8th grade students (n=1430) and teachers (n=18) indicate that the students found the program to be easy to use and useful in preparing for the FCAT.

Citation

Wright, V.., Barron, A. E., & Kromrey, J. D. (1999). Preparing students for high-stakes testing in Florida: An interactive website. Florida Journal of Educational Research, 39(1), 79-94.

Download File: Wright.391.pdf (2202 downloads )

Kristine Y. Hogarty
University of South Florida

Cid Conley
Florida Gulf Coast University

Jeffrey D. Kromrey
University of South Florida

Abstract

The Inquiry Beliefs and Practices Scales (IBPS) was designed to measure the philosophical beliefs and scholarly practices of social science researchers. Three philosophies were identified for us in the development of items (i.e., post-positivism, interprevitism, and critical theory). Using a sample selected from the membership of AERA, APA, and ASA, multiple sources of evidence were sought for the construct validity of scores derived from the IBPS. Exploratory factor analysis resulted in the expected patterns of item loadings. Overall, 84% of the items loaded on factors as anticipated and the pattern was seen for both beliefs and practices items. The correlations among the scales also demonstrated expected patterns and the correlations between the IBPS scores and time since degree earned were in expected directions. Finally, the results from ANOVA suggest that researchers’ responses differed systematically in the anticipated direction, according to both professional organization affiliation and responses to an open-ended description of research activities.

Citation

Hogarty, K. Y., Conley, C., & Kromrey, J. D. (1999). The development and validation of the Inquiry Beliefs and Practices Scale. Florida Journal of Educational Research, 39(1), 46-78.

Download File: Hogarty.391.pdf (2146 downloads )

Cid Conley
Florida Gulf Coast University

Bruce W. Hall
University of South Florida

Abstract

The Florida Educational Research Association (FERA), a grass-roots professional organization of educational research scholars, is almost a half-century old. This oral history of the organization explores the beginnings of the organization, provides an illustrative example of using oral history as a technique for conducting research, and delivers an understanding of how grassroots organizations emerge and how they sustain their initial momentum. Eighteen members of FERA were interviewed for this study including past presidents, past and present board members, school district-based researchers and university-based researchers, some of who have been involved with the organization since its inception.

Citation

Conley, C., & Hall, B. W. (1999). An oral history of the Florida Educational Research Association: The story of the origin and evolution of a grassroots professional organization. Florida Journal of Educational Research, 39(1), 3-45.

Download File: Conley.391.pdf (6265 downloads )

Jeffrey D. Kromrey
University of South Florida

Ann E. Barron
University of South Florida

James A. White
University of South Florida

Melinda R. Hess
University of South Florida

Citation

Kromrey, J. D., Barron, A. E., White, J. A., & Hess, M. R. (1999). Editors’ introduction: Special retrospective issue of the Florida Journal of Educational Research. Florida Journal of Educational Research, 39(1), 1-2.

Download File: Kromrey.391.pdf (2190 downloads )