فصلنامه مطالعات اندازه گیری و ارزشیابی آموزشی
پیاپی 4 (زمستان 1392)

In many scientific studies, especially in the humanities, the influence of variables on each other, or prediction of one variable by some other variables is of special interest. In statistical problems, these goals can be achieved by developing proper statistical models. In recent decades, among various statistical models used by humanities scholars, multilevel models have got special attention. In these models, instead of assuming that model parameters are constant, the impacts of interaction between high levels and low levels have been widely seen in human sciences research. In addition, these models in comparison with low-level models, modify the bias of estimated parameters resulted from cluster sampling. This paper presents multilevel models, and addresses their applications, advantages and disadvantages. Moreover, a three-level model was used to analyze the role of constituent variables of socioeconomic status in educational performance (total score) to enter into universities and “higher education institutions” over time. In this example, the effect of each constituent variable, including parent's educational level, father's occupation, level of income in different genders, was investigated considering the status of the city and province from where participants in the experimental science group of the entrance exam of higher education came during the years 2001 to 2009.

The main purpose of this study is internal evaluation of Agricultural Extension and Education Division of Bu-Ali Sina University in order to identify the strengths and weaknesses of teaching and research at micro level. In order to evaluate the department status, six factors were studied including 1) faculty members, 2) students, 3) graduates, 4) teaching- learning, 5) facilities and equipment, and 6) research. This study was a survey and descriptive statistics were used for analyzing data. Validity of questions used in the questionnaire was confirmed by an expert team. For calculating the reliability of the questionnaire the Cronbach alpha coefficient was used. The average value of this test was 0. 76. The study samples included 75 students, 58 graduates, five faculty members, and four other staff in the Department. The study was conducted between 2000 and 2001. The results revealed that the department status was desirable in terms of both faculty members and teaching- learning factor. However, in terms of students, graduates, facilities and equipment, and research factor it was fairly desirable.

The main purpose of this study was to identify faculty members’ perspective about components of curriculum planning system of agricultural disciplinary in the current and desired situation. Research method was descriptive-survey and statistical population consisted of 158 faculty members that 112 of them were selected randomly as sample making use of Morgan Sampling table. Data has been collected by a questionnaire. Questionnaire reliability using Cronbach alpha for different parts are 0.71, 0.88, and 0.79. The result revealed that from the perspective of faculty members, to achieve a desirable situation “creating curriculum planning common groups to fit curriculum with the labor market needs” is a priority. Higher education administrators and faculty members have the greatest merit among others for participation in curriculum planning. Faculty members indicated "curriculum formulation based on scientific principles and procedures by the qualified authorities and experts” and “appropriateness of curriculum content with the progress and current conditions” as the two action plans to achieve the desirable situation.

This research has been accomplished to weight national subtests and their items to make composite score. The aim of the project was to reduce measurement error associated with composite score in classical test theory framework. weighting procedure has been done in three levels; first, 30 multiple-choice-item test in differential calculus course with 3409 sample size was weighted at item choice level (choices popularity percent and formula score), and item level (simple total without weight or item effect weight, item factor weight and item difficulty weight). At subtest level, also, a test battery of medical assistance national test with 5 equally sized subtests, 6 items, which administered on 3572 candidates, has been weighted in different ways (average Pearson product-moment correlation coefficients weights, factor weights and regression coefficients). Another test battery of medical assistance national test with 5 unequal subtest length, 45, 26, 24,6, and 6 items which administered on 3638 candidates were studied without weighting just on their effective weights. This research revealed that formula score method produces more error than other procedures. Only weighting by item difficulty could rearrange examinees ranking in favor of qualified examinees. Other weighting methods are not satisfactory to enhance reliability coefficients and reliability coefficients, ab initio, are affected by appropriate items and well-made subtests with optimum length.

Trust index is considered social capital facilitating social exchange under the circumstances of unreliability and risk. Moreover, it is crucial in routine life and the fulfillment of social order. In societies with high level of trust, more responsibility is observed while in societies with low level of trust, individuals do not take responsibility. Thus, the success of modern organizations is dependent on making trust. Hence, depending on the subject, in order to promote the sense of trust, making trust is inevitable and this is impossible without comprehensive study on the contributing factors. In this paper, making use of qualitative method of documentary studies as well as literature survey, characteristics and dimensions of organizational trust are presented considering the Iranian society.

The purpose of this study is to investigate the impact of servant leadership in enhancing organizational trust with mediator role of empowerment. The current research method is descriptive and the research project used was based on Structural equations model. The statistical population is all employees of Urmia University with 234 individuals in each stratum selected by stratified random sampling method. Data was gathered through three questionnaires, the servant leader, Organizational trust and Empowerment. After collecting the data it was analyzed by SPSS and LISREL. Results of structural equation modeling showed that the direct effect of the servant leader on empowerment (0/84) is positive and significant. Direct effects of this variable on organizational trust (0/39) is also positive and significant. However, the empowerment effect on organizational trust (0/28) is not significant. Indirect effect of servant leader on organizational trust with intermediary of empowerment (0/24) is not positive and significant.

The aim of this study was to assess the effectiveness of internal evaluation projects, which conducted in departments, at Shiraz University. Research population consisted of entire executors of internal evaluation projects conducted and completed until the end of 2010, department chairman and involved colleges. Research tools consisted of researcher-made questionnaires. Results showed: respondents’ attitudes were largely positive about the quality of some indicators at the internal scope; goals practicality and intelligibility and the philosophy of internal evaluation; the necessity and importance of internal evaluation in the department and also creating a culture of continuous improvement in it. Assessing the dimensions of internal evaluation projects process scope also indicated that executors and department chairman and involved colleges attitude were positive and high about the interference of faculty members’ viewpoint in conduction of internal evaluation. In external scope, respondents also had positive attitudes toward some indicators such as creating problem-solving skills, decision making, creation of intellectual capital in the department, and a desire to revise department goals and practices. Results also indicated that maximum to minimum bids offered were at departmental level, educational group and university.