The results of several cross-sectional and longitudinal studies of students at liberal arts colleges and other postsecondary institutions are reported to demonstrate that liberal arts education has beneficial effects not produced by any other kind of training. Chapters include: approaches to evaluating liberal education; measuring cognitive, motivational, and emotional outcomes; testing the impact of liberal education at "Ivy Colleges;" importance of liberal arts education in adult life; understanding the effects of Ivy Colleges: an integrated model; comparing institutional characteristics and student development at other colleges; and research-based educational policy. Techniques used to assess student competence focus on such areas as critical thinking, leadership capacity, and adaptability. Among the conclusions are: at a liberal arts college freshman-to-senior improvement on most of the areas of competence is significantly greater than freshman-to-senior progress at either a vocationally oriented college or a community college. Resources on how to use the new measures of educational outcomes and methodological considerations are provided. (LC)