Summary of survey software: AM Software

Vendor:

Types of designs that can be accommodated.

Stratified unequal-probability (weighted) cluster or multistage samples.

Types of estimands and statistical analyses that can be accomodated.

AM Software was developed particularly for analysis of data from educational surveys (such as the National Assessment of Educational Progress). It includes a number of analyses under the rubric of Marginal Maximum Likelihood (MML), based on test theory (Item Response Theory) and used particularly to analyze data in which different subjects complete to different subscales of a test. Procedures in this group include MML Regression, MML Means, MML Table (Ordinal), MML Table (Nominal), MML Composite Means, MML Composite Regression, NALS Table, and NAEP Table.

It also includes more standard analyses including Frequencies, Descriptives, Correlations, (Linear) Regression, Percentiles, Probit and Logit Regression.

Data manipulation capabilities include ability to recode or calculate variables.

New features currently in a Beta-test version (available for download) include:

• Graphics: bar charts, line charts, and the new Sectioned Density Plot designed to compare distributions.
• New import/export facilities that enable you to easily import/export data to/from nearly 150 different data file formats, as well as over ODBC.
• Sample-design consistent Wald tests of model fit for all regression models, including the point-and-click ability to test the significance of subsets of regressors.
• A new Mantel-Haenszel stratified chi-square test of the type typically used to evaluate differential item function on tests. As with all AM procedures, this one provides significance tests that are appropriate for complex sample designs.

Restrictions on number of variables or observations.

Primary methods used for variance estimation.

Mainly through Taylor Series methods. Methods based on replication (Jackknife, Balanced repeated, Bootstrap) are available for some analyses.

General description of the "feel" of the software.

Windows menu-based interface.

Input: Data are read as SPSS .sav files, SAS transport files, or ASCII files with a data dictionary in a specific format (adapted to structuring variables for an educational test with scales and subscales). Newest (Beta-release) version accomodates a larger range of input and output formats.

Output to web browser, spreadsheet or plain text.

Platforms on which the software can be run.

Pricing and terms.

Free software. (Developed with support from National Center for Educational Statistics.) Download from http://am.air.org/

Contact information.

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