This link has been bookmarked by 3 people . It was first bookmarked on 29 Sep 2008, by Philip Guth.
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30 Oct 10
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29 Sep 08
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To identify which institutions are most similar to a chosen institution, College Results Online applies an algorithm in which every other four-year institution in the country is compared to the chosen institution. Each institution receives a “similarity score,” ranging from 0 (least similar) to 1000 (identical), based on the degree of similarity to the chosen institution in terms of 11 selected institutional and student characteristics that are statistically correlated with overall six-year graduation rates (see below).
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Once the baseline similarity score is calculated, College Results Online applies additional “filters” to each institution, excluding an institution from possible comparison if it greatly deviates from the chosen institution on any one of a number of factors. This prevents, for example, an institution with 2,500 undergraduates from being compared to an institution with 25,000 undergraduates, even if they are otherwise very similar
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There are a few important things to keep in mind when looking at peer comparisons in higher education. First, no automated peer group methodology is perfect or incontrovertible. While College Results Online methodology is based on the recommendations of an advisory panel of national experts and incorporates a host of different data elements, its accuracy may vary from institution to institution, and is subject to differing opinions about what makes institutions “similar.”
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Second, appropriate peer groupings can vary depending on their purpose. This methodology was specifically designed for the purpose of comparing graduation rates for first-time, full-time, degree-seeking undergraduate students at four-year institutions. A different method might be appropriate for comparing faculty salaries, funding levels, regional competitors, etc.
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