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• Chapter 2
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• Chapter 3
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• Part 6
  
  
  
  
• Chapter 4
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• Part 8
• Part 9
  
  
  
  
• Chapter 5
• Part 1
• Part 2
  
  
  
  
• App. A

7. The Contribution of Library Resources and Activities to TAAS Performance

The last step in the analysis addressed the contribution that library resources and activities make to TAAS performance. The contribution of library resources and activities to TAAS performance was determined through a multiple regression analysis using TAAS performance as the dependent variable and the library and school/community factors as the independent variables. The factors were used in order to avoid multicollinearity. Multicollinearity is a situation in which some or all the independent variables are highly intercorrelated. When variables are highly intercorrelated the results obtained through multiple regression are not reliable and therefore can be misinterpreted. The multiple regression analysis used the forward methodology. Under this methodology the independent variables are entered into the analysis only if they meet certain statistical criteria. The order of inclusion is determined by the respective contribution of each variable to explained variance.

7.1 Elementary Schools

The 14 factors associated with elementary school library and school characteristics were entered into a multiple regression analysis as independent variables. TAAS performance was the dependent variable. Five factors explained 31 percent of the variance associated with elementary school TAAS performance. The five factors included:

Factor 4: Student Ethnic and Economic Composition

• Percent of LEP students
• Percent of economically disadvantaged students
• Percent of white students
• Percent of Hispanic students

Factor 9: Percent African American Students

Percent of African American Students

Factor 10: Library Technology Resources

• Library computers connected to a modem per 100 students
• Library software packages per 100 students

Factor 11: Asian American Students

Percent of Asian American students

Factor 8: Library Financial Resources

• Number of volumes purchased in 1999-00 per 100 students
• Library operational expenditures per 100 students

Factor 4-Student Ethnic and Economic Composition--accounted for 21.4 percent of the variance on TAAS performance at the elementary school level. Factor 9-African American Students-accounted for 3.7 percent of the variance. Factor 10-Library Technology Resources-accounted for 2.5 percent of the variance. Factor 11-Asian American Students-accounted for 1.8 percent of the variance. Factor 8-Library Financial Resources-accounted for 1.5 percent of the variance. Of the 31 percent of the variance in TAAS performance explained, student demographic and economic characteristics accounted for 26.9 percent of the variance and library variables accounted for four percent.

7.2 Middle/Junior High School

The 15 factors associated with middle/junior high school library and school characteristics were entered into a multiple regression analysis as independent variables. TAAS performance was the dependent variable. Two factors explained 48 percent of the variance associated with middle/junior high school TAAS performance. The two factors included:

Factor 4: Student Ethnic and Economic Composition

• Percent of Limited English Proficiency (LEP) students
• Percent of economically disadvantaged students
• Percent of white students
• Percent of Hispanic students

Factor 7: Collaboration and Training

• Identifying materials for instructional units developed by teachers
• Providing information skills instruction to individuals or groups

Factor 4-Student Ethnic and Economic Composition--accounted for 43.7 percent of the variance on TAAS performance at the middle/junior high school level. Factor 7-Collaboration and Training-accounted for 3.9 percent of the variance.

7.3 High Schools

The 11 factors associated with high school library and school characteristics were entered into a multiple regression analysis as independent variables. TAAS performance was the dependent variable. Four factors explained 64 percent of the variance associated with high school TAAS performance. The four factors included:

Factor 4: Student Ethnic and Economic Composition

• Percent of LEP students
• Percent of economically disadvantaged students
• Percent of white students
• Percent of Hispanic students

Factor 2: Library and School Staffing and Print Resources

• Library staff per 100 students
• Library staff hours per 100 students
• Library hours of operation per 100 students
• Volumes per students
• Current subscriptions to magazines and newspapers per 100 students
• School dollars per student
• Student-teacher ratio

Factor 7: Planning with and Training Teachers

• Planning instructional units with teachers
• Providing staff development to teachers

Factor 9: African American students

Percent of African American students

Factor 4-Student Ethnic and Economic Composition--accounted for 53 percent of the variance on TAAS performance at the high school level. Factor 2--Library and School Staffing and Print Resources-accounted for 4.8 percent of the variance. Factor 7-Planning with and Training Teachers-accounted for 3.4 percent of the variance. Factor 9-Percent of African American Students-accounted for 2.4 percent of TAAS performance. The library factors explained 8.2 percent of the variance.

Continue on to Chapter 4, Section 8