This volume presents work focused on underrepresented persons in a variety of levels of higher education. Each scholar has used critical quantitative approaches to examine access and/or success in the higher education arena. Their scholarship pushes the boundaries of what we know by questioning mainstream notions of higher education through: the examination of policies the re-framing of theories and measures the reexamination of traditional questions for nontraditional populations. The work is divergent, but the commonality of the presentations lies in each scholar s critical approach to conventional quantitative scholarship. Their research highlights inequities and explores factors not typically included in conventional quantitative analysis. This is the 158th volume of this Jossey-Bass quarterly report series. Always timely and comprehensive, New Directions for Institutional Research provides planners and administrators in all types of academic institutions with guidelines in such areas as resource coordination, information analysis, program evaluation, and institutional management.

This volume presents work focused on underrepresented persons in avariety of levels of higher education. Each scholar has usedcritical quantitative approaches to examine access and/or successin the higher education arena. Their scholarship pushes theboundaries of what we know by questioning mainstream notions ofhigher education through:* the examination of policies* the re-framing of theories and measures* the reexamination of traditional questions for nontraditionalpopulations.The work is divergent, but the commonality of the presentationslies in each scholar's critical approach to conventionalquantitative scholarship. Their research highlights inequities andexplores factors not typically included in conventionalquantitative analysis.This is the 158th volume of this Jossey-Bass quarterly reportseries. Always timely and comprehensive, New Directions forInstitutional Research provides planners and administratorsin all types of academic institutions with guidelines in such areasas resource coordination, information analysis, program evaluation,and institutional management.

1. Critical Quantitative Inquiry in Context 1Frances K. Stage, Ryan S. WellsThis chapter briefly traces the development of the concept ofcritical quantitative inquiry, provides an expandedconceptualization of the tasks of critical quantitative inquiry,offers theoretical explanation and justification for criticalresearch using quantitative methods, and previews the work ofquantitative criticalists presented in this volume2. Strains, Strengths, and Intervention Outcomes: A CriticalExamination of Intervention Efficacy for Underrepresented Groups9Krystal L. WilliamsThis chapter discusses a critical quantitative approach forimproving STEM pipeline interventions. It discusses racial/ethnicand gender disparities in STEM, highlights the role of policyinterventions in decreasing gaps, and presents a strength-basedframework for investigating intervention efficacy.3. Civic Engagement Measures for Latina/o College Students23Cynthia M. AlcantarThis chapter employs a critical quantitative approach to examinemodels and measures of civic engagement for Latina/o collegestudents. Alternative measures of civic engagement are presentedbased on factors that impact civic engagement for Latina/os.4. Using Large Data Sets to Study College Education Trajectories37Leticia Oseguera, Jihee HwangThe authors present a quantitative study on low-income studentsusing a national data set and describe how a critical quantitativescholar may consider analytic alternatives and make decisionsduring the research process.5. Critical Quantitative Study of Immigrant Students 51Katherine M. ConwayThis chapter discusses the importance of critical quantitativeresearch for studies of immigrant students, a large and growinggroup, whose higher education experience is crucial to the futureof the United States. Important distinctions among immigrantstudents and areas of future inquiry are presented.6. Minority-Serving Institutions and the Education of U.S.Underrepresented Students 65Ginelle John, Frances K. StageThis chapter examines the institutional contexts within whichunderrepresented students study. Using national data, the chapterexamines numbers of bachelor's degrees awarded to students bythree types of institutions: minority-serving institutions,predominantly minority institutions, and predominantly Whiteinstitutions.7. Disrupting the Pipeline: Critical Analyses of Student PathwaysThrough Postsecondary STEM Education 77Heather E. MetcalfThis chapter critically examines the pipeline model ideologythat has become embedded within academic discourse, research, anddata surrounding STEM work and education. The chapter providesnovel alternatives for quantitative analysis and applies thisapproach to analysis of the STEM workforce.8. The Changing Context of Critical Quantitative Inquiry95Cecilia Rios-AguilarThe author reflects on each chapter in this volume and presentsan extended framework to help scholars in the field of highereducation and institutional research to be critical. She concludesby describing the opportunities and challenges of this recommendedapproach.INDEX 109