In this co-edited book, we provide the reader with nine examples of multiyear empirical investigations in which secondary data or archival data were analyzed. Schools today, as well as postsecondary institutions, generate incredible amounts of data; data which are not used to the extent that we believe they should be. In addition to the chapters themselves, we provide our own commentaries to either specific chapters or clusters of chapters.
The focus in all nine chapters is on the effects of poverty on student achievement. Though we all know that poverty matters, in the articles detailed information on how much poverty negatively influences student performance is provided. Such specificity in results can be useful when interventions or new programs are implemented. Program evaluations of such efforts could use our findings as a baseline to which their results could be compared.
The samples of students whose data were analyzed in the nine chapter were primarily students of color and students enrolled in special education. Their performance is even more negatively affected by the influences of poverty.
We believe that these nine examples of analyzing pre-existing data serve as exemplars of such works. We hope the reader is stimulated to think of how to extend these studies; on how to replicate them; and on how to generate counterpart investigations. Far too much quality data exist that go underutilized. We encourage the reader to consider using archival data in their future research investigations.