Cathy Stasz

Adjunct Behavioral Scientist

Off Site Office

Education

Ph.D. in education, University of California, Los Angeles; M.Ed. in educational psychology, Rutgers University; B.A. in psychology, Rider College

One Page Bio

Media Resources

This researcher is available for interviews.

To arrange an interview, contact the RAND Office of Media Relations at (310) 451-6913, or email media@rand.org.

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Overview

Cathleen Stasz is an adjunct behavioral scientist at the RAND Corporation. Her main research areas include the implementation of advanced computer-based technologies in education, the workplace, and the military; education and training for work; and teaching and learning generic skills for the workplace. From 1990 to 2000, she was RAND's site director for the National Center for Research in Vocational Education (NCRVE). She conducted a series of studies concerning new skill needs in the workplace and their implications for education policy and practice.

Her most recent work includes a study of the attractiveness of initial vocational education programs in Europe. She received her Ph.D. in education from the University of California, Los Angeles.

Research Focus

Recent Projects

Assessment of the attractiveness of initial vocational education programs in Europe
An inquiry into the certification of vocational skill
Study of skill demands and postsecondary education opportunities in the State of Qatar
K–12 education reform in the State of Qatar
Systems analysis of vocational learning policy in the United Kingdom

Selected Publications

Cathleen Stasz, "Assessing Skills for Work: Two Perspectives," Oxford Economic Papers, 53(3), 2001

Cathleen Stasz and Brian M. Stecher, "Teaching Mathematics and Language Arts in Reduced Size and Non-Reduced Size Classrooms," Educational Evaluation and Policy Analysis, 22(4), 200

Cathleen Stasz, Susan Guthrie, Craig Holmes, Attractiveness of Initial Vocational Education and Training: Identifying What Matters, Cedefop (EP-50530), 2014

Cathleen Stasz and Susannah Wright "A framework for understanding and comparing 14-19 education policies in the United Kingdom," in David Raffe and Ken Spours, Policy Making and Policy Learning in 14-19 Education, London: Institute of Education, University of London, 2007

Cathleen Stasz, Eric Eide and Francisco Martorell, Post-secondary Education in Qatar: Employer Demand, Student Choice, and Options for Policy, RAND (MG-644), 2007

Cathleen Stasz and Susan Bodilly,, Efforts to Improve the Quality of Vocational Education in Secondary Schools: Impact of Federal and State Policies, RAND (MR-1655), 2004

Honors & Awards

President's Award, RAND Corporation

Commentary

Building a Sound Technical and Vocational Education and Training System
Technical and vocational education and training in India has expanded significantly over the past two decades. But quality and relevance remain significant issues. What may be learned from other countries' experiences?
Dec 31, 2014 EduTech Magazine

Publications

Journal Article
Governing Education and Training Systems in England: Some Lessons from the United States
Recent changes in education and training policy in England continue to focus on creating a 'demand-led' system in an environment where public funds are dwindling and where more responsibility is being devolved away from central government.
Feb 16, 2015
Report
Improving Technical Vocational Education and Training in the Kurdistan Region — Iraq: Arabic-language version
Examines the adequacy of technical and vocational education and training in Iraq's growing Kurdistan Region; identifies areas for improvement through interviews with a variety of officials and an analysis of similar systems in other nations.
May 29, 2014
Report
Improving Technical Vocational Education and Training in the Kurdistan Region — Iraq: Kurdish-language version
Examines the adequacy of technical and vocational education and training in Iraq's growing Kurdistan Region; identifies areas for improvement through interviews with a variety of officials and an analysis of similar systems in other nations.
May 29, 2014
Report
Improving Technical Vocational Education and Training in the Kurdistan Region — Iraq
Examines the adequacy of technical and vocational education and training in Iraq's growing Kurdistan Region; identifies areas for improvement through interviews with a variety of officials and an analysis of similar systems in other nations.
Apr 24, 2014
Journal Article
Attractiveness of Initial Vocational Education and Training: Identifying What Matters
The aim of the study is to improve the evidence base for policy decisions and actions at national and EU level to increase the attractiveness of IVET in Europe.
2014
Journal Article
How Effective Are Different Approaches to Higher Education Provision in Increasing Access, Quality and Completion for Students in Developing Countries? Does This Differ by Gender of Students?
How to effectively increase access to and quality in higher education in developing countries is a highly debated topic.
Aug 1, 2013
Journal Article
The Impact of Different Approaches to Higher Education Provision in Increasing Access, Quality and Completion for Students in Developing Countries
This systematic review aims to synthesize the evidence on the effectiveness of various approaches to higher education provision in increasing access, quality and completion for students in developing countries.
Jul 1, 2012
Journal Article
The Purposes and Validity of Vocational Qualifications
This paper argues that the extent to which vocational qualifications support valid inferences for different purposes remains largely unexplored.
Nov 1, 2011
Research Brief
Improving Early Childhood Education in Central and Eastern Europe Step by Step
Summarizes the capacity, reach, and sustainability of the Step by Step (SbS) Program, child-centered teaching strategies and parent and community involvement in early childhood education systems in former Soviet bloc countries.
Oct 26, 2008
Report
The Step by Step Early Childhood Education Program: Assessment of Reach and Sustainability
An evaluation study of the Step by Step (SbS) early childhood program to further assess its reach and sustainability and to provide technical assistance to help develop its data-collection and data-analysis capabilities.
May 25, 2008
Report
Implementation of new curriculum arrangements for 14-19 year olds: International comparisons
Presents results of a comparative study investigating the implementation of education programmes for 14-19 year olds in three countries: The Netherlands, Sweden and, Australia.
May 1, 2008
Research Brief
Identifying Priorities for Post-Secondary Education in Qatar (Arabic version)
This research brief summarizes RAND's analysis of the extent to which Qatar's post-secondary educational offerings can meet Qatar's future needs and offers remedies for identified shortcomings.
Feb 10, 2008
Research Brief
A New System for K-12 Education in Qatar (Arabic version)
This research brief highlights aspects of Phase I (2001-04) of Qatar's K-12 reform initiative, Education for a New Era, based on RAND's experiences in this multi-participant effort to build a world-class standards- and choice-based education system.
Oct 31, 2007
Report
Education for a New Era, Executive Summary: Design and Implementation of K-12 Education Reform in Qatar
Provides an overview of the first phase of Qatar's K-12 education reform initiative, Education for a New Era, based on RAND's experiences in this ambitious, multi-participant effort to build a world-class standards- and choice-based education system.
Oct 29, 2007
Research Brief
Identifying Priorities for Post-Secondary Education in Qatar
This research brief summarizes RAND's analysis of the extent to which Qatar's post-secondary educational offerings can meet Qatar's future needs and offers remedies for identified shortcomings.
Oct 29, 2007
Report
Post-Secondary Education in Qatar: Employer Demand, Student Choice, and Options for Policy
Describes a study conducted to assess how well Qatar's post-secondary education system is producing Qataris capable of furthering the nation's goals, as well as to determine priorities for developing post-secondary opportunities.
Oct 12, 2007
Research Brief
A New System for K-12 Education in Qatar
This research brief highlights aspects of Phase I (2001-04) of Qatar's K-12 reform initiative, Education for a New Era, based on RAND's experiences in this multi-participant effort to build a world-class standards- and choice-based education system.
Apr 8, 2007
Report
Education for a New Era: Design and Implementation of K-12 Education Reform in Qatar
Describes the first phase of Qatar's bold K-12 education reform initiative, Education for a New Era, based on RAND's experiences as part of this ambitious, multi-participant effort to build a world-class standards- and choice-based education system.
Apr 1, 2007
Draft
The Use of Lottery Systems in School Admissions
Provides a brief review of the use of lottery/ballot systems for admissions to schools under the UK's proposed School Admissions Code.
Mar 1, 2007
Journal Article
A Framework for Understanding and Comparing 14-19 Education Policies in the United Kingdom
This paper draws on a recent project funded by the Learning and Skills Research Centre (LSRC) on Modelling a Vocational Learning System for the 21st Century.
2007
Draft
An Introduction to Qatar’s Primary and Secondary Education Reform
Describes a reform designed by Qatari education officials and RAND researchers to upgrade the school system of Qatar.
May 31, 2006
Report
Efforts to Improve the Quality of Vocational Education in Secondary Schools: Impact of Federal and State Policies
What is the state of the U.S. vocational education system and how do various policies enhance or impede high-quality practices?
2004
Journal Article
Emerging Policy for Vocational Learning in England: Will It Lead to a Better System?
This report analyses recent policy initiatives in England relating to vocational learning, and compares them with policies in Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland.
2004
Journal Article
Outcomes and Processes in Vocational Learning: A Review of the Literature
This report critically reviews a range of evidence on different vocational learning programmes, their purposes and outcomes, and the learning processes involved.
2004
Report
Teaching Mathematics and Language Arts in Reduced Sized and Non-Reduced Sized Classrooms
Teaching Mathematics and Language Arts in Reduced Sized and Non-Reduced Sized Classrooms
2003
Journal Article
Assessing Skills for Work: Two Perspectives
Changes in the nature of work have created demands for new skills and education and training policies to enhance skill development.
2001
Draft
Before and After Class Size Reduction: A Tale of Two Teachers
RAND contributes to class-size reduction research by focusing on two third-grade teachers who switched from large to small classes in California. Measuring little overall change in the learning environment, the authors develop potential explanations.
2001
Report
Teaching Mathematics and Language Arts in Reduced Sized and Non-Reduced Sized Classrooms
Teaching Mathematics and Language Arts in Reduced Sized and Non-Reduced Sized Classrooms
2001
Report
Understanding Commander’s Information Needs
A commonly held belief within the Army is that commanders of higher-echelon units (Echelons Above Brigade, or EAB) often fail to obtain the information that they need.
2000
Report
Academic skills at work : two perspectives
Academic skills at work : two perspectives
1999
Report
Education and the New Economy : A Policy Planning Exercise
Education and the New Economy A Policy Planning Exercise
1998
Report
Do employers need the skills they want? : evidence from technical work
Do employers need the skills they want? : evidence from technical work
1998
Report
Education and the New Economy: A Policy Planning Exercise
Describes an exercise in which participants were asked to decide on how they would allocate federal block grant money for training and education, and to prioritize a list of desired reforms. They then discussed the ramifications of their choices.
1998
Journal Article
Generic Skills at Work: Implications for Occupationally-Oriented Education
This chapter takes a socio-cultural approach to examine generic skills in the context of technical work.
1998
Report
Work-Based Learning: Student Perspectives on Quality and Links to Schools
Work-based learning : student perspectives on quality and links to schools
1998
Journal Article
Work-based Learning: High Hopes or Dim Realities?
1998
Report
Designing Classrooms that Work: Teacher Training Guide
RAND developed and pilot tested a six-week ''mini-sabbatical'' for high-school teachers and teacher trainers. This document describes the mini-sabbatical curriculum.
1997
Report
Designing classrooms that work : conception and pilot study
Designing classrooms that work : conception and pilot study
1997
Report
Learning how to learn at work : lessons from three high school programs
Learning how to learn at work : lessons from three high school programs
1997
Journal Article
Workplace Skills in Practice: Case Studies of Technical Work
The study used a sociocultural approach to examine skills and work-related dispositions (tendencies to use one's capabilities on the job) in four diverse industries.
1996
Report
Enhancing opportunity to learn measures in NCES data
Enhancing opportunity to learn measures in NCES data
1996
Report
Workplace Skills in Practice: Case Studies of Technical Work
In this study, the authors sought to better understand skills required in technical work, the institutional context in which work takes place, and employers' strategies for meeting perceived skill requirements.
1996
Draft
The Economic Imperative Behind School Reform: A Review of the Literature
The author reviews literature that examines (1) the basic assumptions behind various education reforms designed to better prepare students for work and (2) how reformers should design programs to increase students' job-related skills.
1995
Report
Integrating academic and vocational education : a review of the literature, 1987-1992
Integrating academic and vocational education : a review of the literature, 1987-1992
1995
Research Brief
Integrating Academic and Vocational Education: Lessons from Early Innovators
Analyzed the experience of eight schools that had begun their integration efforts several years before the Perkins amendments.
1994
Report
Classrooms at Work: Teaching Generic Skills in Academic and Vocational Settings
This study examined how generic skills and work-related attitudes can be taught in academic and vocational high school classrooms.
1993
Report
Integrating Academic and Vocational Education: Lessons from Eight Early Innovators
Examines the experiences of eight schools that implemented integration efforts prior to the federal mandate.
1993
Research Brief
Teaching Generic Skills for the Workplace
The instruction of generic skills and attitudes can occur effectively at schools in traditional standalone classrooms. Thus, policymakers need not restrict generic skills instruction to programs with a workplace component.
1993
Report
Implementing a Novel Computer-Related Algebra Course
Describes the curriculum module for beginning algebra that the authors developed to address in an integrated rather than piecemeal way, some problems of mathematics curriculum content reform, the novel use of computers in the classroom, ...
1992
Report
Assessing Benefits of the U.S. Forest Service's Geographic Information System: Research Design
Presents a research design developed to assess the impact of implementing a geographic information system (GIS) on mission-related work in the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service.
1991
Report
Tutoring Techniques in Algebra
Describes the authors' initial attempts to study one-to-one tutoring. The goal of the research is to construct a detailed cognitive model of the reasoning and knowledge of an expert human tutor.
1991
Report
Who Should Train? Substituting Civilian-Provided Training for Military Training
In light of expected changes in the size and structure of the force, and the increasing importance of the reserve forces, Congress has asked whether initial skill training for technical occupations could be provided by civilian institutions.
1991
Report
Information Technology in the U.S. Forest Service: An Assessment of Late-Stage Implementation
A distributed information system implemented by the U.S. Forest Service in 1983 has improved the agency's ability to perform its missions.
1990
Report
An Intelligent Tutor for Basic Algebra
This report describes research to develop an intelligent tutor for basic algebra.
1990
Report
Teaching and Learning Generic Skills for the Workplace
Recent school reform seeks to reconceptualize schooling for most students. Reform proposals urge that instruction emphasize "generic skills" as much as, or more than, it does occupation-specific or domain-specific knowledge and skills.
1990
Report
Algebraic Thinking Tools: Supports for Modeling Situations and Solving Problems in Kids' Worlds
Describes several versions of an intelligent tutor for basic algebra that has been in development at RAND since 1986.
1989
Report
Implementing the Battle Command Training Program
Presents the results of a RAND study examining the implementation of the U.S. Army's Battle Command Training Program (BCTP), which consists of three phases.
1989
Report
Managing Technological Change: The Process is Key
This Note is based on three separate studies of the ways in which new office information systems are chosen, developed, introduced, and integrated into organizations' day-to-day operations.
1989
Report
Skill-Oriented Task Sequencing in an Intelligent Tutor for Basic Algebra
As part of a project to develop an intelligent computer tutor for basic algebra, the authors investigated task sequencing. In this Note, they present an approach to task sequencing that is based on a component-skills view of intelligence and learning.
1989
Report
Employment Impacts of Information System Implementation in a Federal Agency: An Exploratory Study
Examines changes in the size and composition of the labor force of a large government agency undergoing automation, using computerized personnel data, interviews, and a questionnaire.
1988
Report
An intelligent tutor for basic algebra: preliminary data on student outcomes
This paper, originally presented at the annual meeting of the American Educational Research Association, New Orleans, April 1988, presents preliminary student outcomes from the initial introduction of a prototype intelligent computer-based algebra tu...
1988
Report
Motivational consequences of computer- and teacher-generated attribution feedback
This paper reports on part of an investigation of the effect computers may have on student motivation. It compares two types of motivation feedback (bad luck and low effort) when they are delivered by two different sources (computer and human tutor)....
1988
Report
Multiple Representations of Mathematical Reasoning
Multiple alternative representations of mathematical reasoning have interesting applications in the context of an intelligent tutor for basic algebra. This Note describes the notion of multiple representations at a general level.
1988
Report
Learning Problem-Solving Skills in Algebra
This Note, reprinted from the Journal of Educational Technology Systems, v. 15, no. 3, 1986-1987, describes an intelligent tutor for basic algebra.
1987
Report
Administrative Policies for Increasing the Use of Microcomputers in Instruction
Describes the policy mechanisms available to district and school administrators to encourage more widespread use of microcomputers as an instructional tool in subject matter courses.
1986
Report
Assessing the Forest Service's Implementation of an Agency-wide Information System: An Exploratory Study
Describes the implementation of a new agency-wide information system in the United States Forest Service (USFS) and explores the impact of the system on individuals and the organization by analyzing the contributions of three major factors...
1986
Report
Electronic Tools and Job Design
Focuses on three questions as a first step in thinking about job-design issues: (1) What kinds of changes occur when electronic tools are adopted in the workplace? (2) Whose jobs change and how? (3) Who plays a role in job design?
1986
Report
Evaluating Student Outcomes from Telecourse Instruction: A Feasibility Study
Telecourses provide instruction primarily to diverse populations of students off campus, most notably through television, but via other media as well.
1986
Report
Teachers as role models: are there gender differences in microcomputer-based mathematics and science instruction?
This paper examines whether male and female teachers differ in (1) their background or training for instructional uses of microcomputers and (2) their uses of microcomputers to teach mathematics and science. Research carried out in 60 classrooms, 49 ...
1986
Report
Computer-Mediated Work: Individual and Organizational Impact in One Corporate Headquarters
This report describes how computer-based information technology was introduced into one white-collar work setting, and explores the consequences to employees and the organization.
1985
Report
District and School Incentives for Teachers' Instructional Uses of Microcomputers
This paper considers the role that different types of incentives and forms of support play in influencing how microcomputers are used for classroom instruction. (A companion paper, P-7087, considers how to encourage staff development.)
1985
Report
A Survey of Incentives for Staff Development of Computer-Based Instruction
This paper considers the role that different types of district and school incentives play in increasing teacher participation in computer staff development.
1985
Report
Using Computer-Based Technologies in Organizations: A Research Prospectus — Institute for Interactive Information Environments
Presents the prospectus for The Institute for Interactive Information Environments (IIIE), a research consortium to be established by RAND.
1985
Report
How effective teachers use microcomputers for instruction
This paper describes patterns of microcomputer use found among teachers nominated as "successful" at elementary and secondary mathematics and science instruction. The study focuses on the integration of microcomputers into the teaching process, and i...
1984
Report
Staff development for instructional uses of microcomputers: the teachers' perspective
This paper uses data collected in a larger study of microcomputer-based mathematics and science instruction in elementary and secondary schools (P-6982) to make recommendations about the content and organization of staff-development activities design...
1984
Report
Successful Teachers' Patterns of Microcomputer-Based Mathematics and Science Instruction
This study empirically documents instructional practice with microcomputers early in the history of the technology's implementation in public schools.
1984
Report
Teaching Mathematics and Science: Patterns of Microcomputer Use
Narrow knowledge gaps regarding computer uses in schools by describing the patterns of microcomputer-based mathematics and science instruction employed by teachers recognized as "unusually successful" in their instructional applications of microcomputers.
1984
Report
Federal Support for Training Foreign Language and Area Specialists: The Education and Careers of FLAS Fellowship Recipients
Examines training and careers of individuals who received support through the Foreign Language and Area Studies (FLAS) fellowship program, and profiles their training, employment history, and on-the-job use of language and area skills.
Sep 1, 1983
Report
Successful use of microcomputers in classroom instruction
A widely shared belief among many policymakers, educators, parents, and the general public is that microcomputers have the potential to help pull U.S. education out of its current state of mediocrity, and subsequently improve its quality. This paper ...
1983
Report
Teachers' instructional uses of microcomputers
This study's goal is to set forth guidelines for designing educational courseware that meets teachers' subject-matter and pedagogical needs and for educating preservice and inservice teachers in the instructional uses of microcomputers. To this end, ...
1983
Report
Response errors in sensitive topics surveys : executive summary
Response errors in sensitive topics surveys : executive summary
1981
Report
Response Errors in Sensitive Topic Surveys: Estimates, Effects, and Correction Options
This report examines three questions about response errors in sensitive topic surveys: extent of the problem; impact of the problem; and overcoming the problem.
1981
Report
Selected research publications in cognitive science by RAND staff: 1979-1980
The bibliographies presented are a compilation of recent publications by some of the RAND researchers in the Information Processing Systems program. The bibliography is selective, comprising only those papers concerned with the broad range of topics ...
1981
Report
Staff Development Programs in Desegregated Settings
Analyzes three aspects of inservice programs in 16 desegregated school districts in the East, Midwest, and West: the process of staff development, the program characteristics of staff development activities, and local perceptions of the programs' effectiveness.
Feb 1, 1980
Report
Ability and Strategy Differences in Map Learning
Describes the influence of individual differences in ability and subject-selected learning procedures and strategies for acquiring knowledge from maps.
1980
Report
The influence of visual-spatial ability and study procedures on map learning skill
An investigation of the influence of two sources of individual differences in knowledge acquisition from maps: abilities and learning procedures. Twenty-five subjects provided verbal protocols while attempting to learn two maps. Visual spatial abi...
1980
Report
Network Structures for Distributed Situation Assessment
An investigation of potential organizations for automated distributed sensor networks (DSNs), i.e., dispersed nodes that can pool their information to perform accurate situation assessment.
1980
Report
Performance Models for Spatial and Locational Cognition
Summarizes a three-year investigation of the knowledge and processes people use to learn and make spatial judgments in large-scale environments.
1980
Report
Planning During Map Learning: The Global Strategies of High and Low Visual-Spatial Individuals
An investigation of the relationship between people's visual-spatial ability and their global strategies for learning maps.
1980
Report
Individual differences in knowledge acquisition from maps
Individual differences in knowledge acquisition from maps
1979
Report
Strategies for map learning
Acquiring knowledge from a map depends upon processes for focusing attention, encoding information, and integrating knowledge. This paper describes the heuristics people use to learn maps. Verbal protocols were obtained from three expert map users an...
1979
Report
Training procedures for map learning
Investigates the influence of high-level study procedures on success at map learning. After learning a map using their own techniques, subjects were instructed (1) in the use of six previously determined effective learning procedures, (2) in the use ...
1979