Author Description

This handbook describes the procedures used to administer and analyze the results of the 1978-79 national music assessment of the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP). It also describes changes in procedures between the first NAEP music assessment conducted in 1971-72 and the 1978-79 assessment. Each assessment surveyed the music achievement and attitudes of American 9-, 13- and 17-year-olds, using a deeply stratified, multistage probability sample design. The purpose of the handbook is to provide detailed procedural information for people interested in replicating the assessment or in need of more information than is provided in the reports containing assessment data. The eight chapters cover objectives redevelopment, exercise creation, preparation of assessment booklets, sampling, data collection, scoring, data analysis, and reporting. Each chapter explains the basic procedures used for the 1978-79 assessment and contrasts these procedures to those used in earlier years if there were changes. Appendices, which comprise over half of the handbook, contain materials covering definitions of reporting groups, forms used to gather background information about students and schools, response rates, computation of achievement measures and procedures for smoothing respondent weights. A glossary of NAEP terms is provided at the end of the book. Primary type of information provided by report: Procedures (Overview). (Author/RM)