Within the United States, the research was sponsored by the International Activities Group of the Data Development Division of the (NCES). Marilyn Binkley was U.S. National Research Coordinator, and project director for the study. The data collection and much of the analysis was carried out by Westat, Inc., under the direction of David Bayless, Keith Rust, and Trevor Williams. Overall project direction was provided by Jeanne Griffith, Associate Commissioner for Data Development throughout most of the life of the project, and Gary Phillips, Associate Commissioner for Educational Assessment. Eugene Owen, Chief of the International Activities group, provided constant support and guidance at both the national and international levels.
The findings presented in this report were drawn from the results of the analyses reported upon in the accompanying technical report, published in 1994, using the data that were collected via the methods described in that report. Thus, those individuals acknowledged in that report also contributed in a direct way to the value of this report. We ask the reader to refer to the technical report to identify those individuals who contributed so much to the conceptual and technical aspects of the study. Special mention is due, however, to Stephen Roey at Westat, who undertook many of the analyses conducted especially for this report, as well as those in the technical report.
A number of others have made significant contributions to this report in its own right. The members of the NCES-appointed review panel provided many important suggestions for improvement, and the report has benefited from their incorporation. The panel members were Nabeel Alsalam, Sharon Bobbitt, Peggy Carr, Emerson Elliott, James Guthrie, Barbara Kapinus, Irwin Kirsch, Paula Knepper, Ramsay Selden, and Floraline Stevens.
The final form of the report owes much to the patience and diligence of Mary Frase, who painstakingly undertook the task of ensuring that the statements and tabulations in the report were clear, valid, consistent, and in accord with the underlying data. Robert Burton and Susan Ahmed provided sound direction for the technical presentation of the material. These three individuals helped to ensure that the report met or exceeded NCES standards for reporting, and we thank them for their many contributions.
This report is intended for a wider audience than many published by NCES. For editorial guidance in making the report acceptable to this wider audience, we thank Harriet Tyson. Carol Litman assisted with the technical editing of the report. Sylvie Warren, Luann Moore, Lynne Hofman, and Gil Leigh undertook the preparation of the text and figures, and worked painstakingly to incorporate the many revisions as they arose. Responsibility for any remaining errors rests with the authors.
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