Applied Statistical Misuse in Educational Research: An Admissions Criteria Example

The increased interest in empirical research over the last few years has produced a severe problem with applied statistical misuse in social work research efforts that incorporate advanced analytical techniques. A recent article in the Journal of Education for Social Work purporting to assess admissions criteria is presented as a primary example of such misuse and provides the basis for a discussion of general methodological issues of particular importance to social work education research. Specific issues discussed include the truncation of range, dummy coding, identifying race and sex bias, measuring professional potential, and the generalization of findings.