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Profile Student Characteristics From the 1986 and 1988 NAEP Assessments NAEP

Author(s):
Martinez, Michael E.; Lahart, Colleen M.
Publication Year:
1990
Report Number:
RR-90-20
Source:
ETS Research Report
Document Type:
Report
Page Count:
53
Subject/Key Words:
Home Environment, National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), Parent Influence, Student Behavior, Student Characteristics, Student Employment, Television Viewing

Abstract

Profile is a "biographical sketch" of the nation's students based on information gathered in the 1986 and 1988 National Assessments of Educational Progress (NAEP) as part of their surveys of proficiencies in subject areas. The report is based primarily on data from the 1988 assessment, in which students from grades 4, 8, and 12, totalling approximately 79,000, answered questions about their personal characteristics, home life, and schoolwork. The 1986 assessment involved 73,000 students at grades 3, 7, and 11. A subset of the voluminous demographic and background data is reported by a variety of variables, such as gender, race/ethnicity, and parental education. The purpose of Profile is to demonstrate how national survey data on student background characteristics can be related to research on learning outcomes in a way that is interpretable by the lay person. Such a regular publication might be useful for educational policy makers at all levels and would complement the National Assessment "report cards" of subject and skill proficiency. (53pp.)

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