Data Mining Using

the Federal
Research and
Evaluation
Database
Predict
Explain

Describe
U.S. Department of Labor
Employment and
Training Administration
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 Agenda
• Overview of the tool
• The basics of data analysis
• TAA and WIA application menus
• Exploring menu options
• Example scenarios
• Questions?

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 Overview of the Tool
The Federal Research and Evaluation Database (FRED)
enables analysis of the Trade Act Participant Report (TAPR)
and the WIA Standardized Record Data (WIASRD). Both are
annually submitted by states on exiters' demographic
characteristics, the services they received, and the outcomes
they achieved after exit.
• Currently contains data on exiters from the PY04 WIASRD and
FY05 TAPR
• Examine performance, caseload and program information from the
national, regional, state and local levels
• Display trends in performance by quarter as well as the
characteristics of the exiter cohort
• Create comparison groups based on parameters set by the user
• Create cross-tabulation tables and correlations

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 The Use of Data Elements in FRED
Data Elements or Variables
• Dependent variable (end-result or outcome)
• Independent variables (causal or predictor)
• Control or intervening variables (confounding)
• Types of variables (levels of measures)
– Nominal
– Ordinal Categorical
– Interval
– Ratio
Scale

Remember: The types of variables we choose determines the statistical

procedures we use in the analyses.

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 Descriptive Statistics
• Summary statistics on key variables
– Number, mean, minimum, maximum,
standard deviation, percentiles
• Graphical techniques are often used to
display distributions
• Cross-tabulations are used to describe the relationships
between two or more variables

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 Application Menus

Go to http://www.fred-info.org

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Accessing the WIA Menu

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 Accessing the WIA Menu

Program Funding
Area Formula
Specific Specific 8
 WIA Program-Specific Menu
14 Applications

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Accessing the TAA Menu

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 Accessing the TAA Menu
10 Applications

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 Commonly Used Menu Options

Drill down-all measures

Drill down by measure
Benchmark performance against peers
Create a performance adjustment model and worksheet
Calculated performance by rolling quarters
Profiles by program area
Find the top performers for a given performance measure
Ad hoc analysis

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 Drill Down: All Measures
This tool allows the user to drill down into
program year and levels of program
administration to examine performance.
The All Measures selection allows the
user to examine performance for all
measurement groups at once.

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 Drill Down: By Measures
Focusing on a single measure at a time, this
tool allows the user to drill down into program
year and levels of program administration to
examine performance. The By Measures
selection allows the user to
examine the effect of client
characteristics and program
services on a performance outcome.

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Downloaded file is in a comma
separated value (CSV) format

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 Benchmark Performance
This tool allows the user to benchmark the
performance of a given state or local area
against the performance of other areas with
similar conditions.

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 Adjustment Model
This tool allows the user to develop a
performance adjustment model to help in
understanding the impacts of various
factors on performance at the state,
regional or national level. The model is
displayed as a worksheet. The user can
adjust the factors included in the
worksheet on-line to explore the
impacts resulting from changes in customer characteristics,
program services, and economic conditions.

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 This link
provides
detailed results
from the
regression
procedure,
including
correlation
coefficients.

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 Performance by Rolling Quarters
This tool allows the user to analyze
performance trends that reflect a four quarter
average. Looking at a year’s worth of data
each quarter removes cyclical quarter
to quarter fluctuations to more clearly
see overall performance trends.

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 Area Profiles
This tool allows the user to display customer
and program service profiles by funding
stream during a given program year. Profiles
may also be created to reflect national,
regional, state or LWIA
characteristics.

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 Top Performers
This tool allows the user to display the top
performing state or local area for a given
performance measure and a specific customer
characteristic.

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 Ad Hoc Analysis
This tool allows the user to choose the
combination of variables of interest to
create and display cross-tabulation tables.
The user can also
display the results by a
third variable of interest.

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 For More Information

ETA’s Performance and Results Web Page

http://www.doleta.gov/performance/

ETA’s Administrative Data Research and

Evaluation (ADARE) Project
Website
http://www.ubalt.edu/jfi/adare/partners/maryland.htm

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