Wallace J. Gingerich’s research while affiliated with University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee and other places

In July of 1978 the State of Wisconsin implemented a new procedure for the determination of uniform foster care rates. The definitions and procedures used under the new policy are summarized in this brief note. Further, the findings of a study of the interrater reliability of the determination of the supplemental payment portion of the foster care rates are reported. The study found there was generally high accuracy and high interrater agreement among the rate-setters in determining the level of supplemental payment.

Existing methods for assessing the significance of client change in single-subject research designs are not useful for baseline data containing trend, or are too complicated to be practical. This paper provides a step-by-step procedure for applying the celeration line test, a quasi-statistical technique for evaluating client change. The test utilizes visual analysis of graphed client data with the aid of an easily fitted trend line and table of relative frequencies. The procedure is practical for clinical use; it is easily learned and applied, and is applicable with moderate baselines and baselines containing trend. Considerations in the use of the celeration line technique are discussed, along with general issues that arise when assessing change in clinical time-series data.