Though central to any pedagogical development of physics, the concept of mass is still not well understood. Properly defining mass has proven to be far more daunting than contemporary textbooks would have us believe. And yet today the origin of mass is one of the most aggressively pursued areas of research in all of physics. Much of the excitement…

Discusses the issue of academic fraud in the form of science research malpractice. Topic areas considered include: malpractice studies; causes of misconduct; normal and deviant research behavior; and distinguished research characteristics in production, reporting, dissemination, and evaluation. Consequences of malpractice and…

This booklet contains the proceedings of a conference designed to elicit discussion, reactions, comments, and recommendations with respect to the value, desirability, significance, and budgetary problems involved in carrying out scientific research programs at comprehensive universities (those having either no Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) programs…

In 1980, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) initiated the Graduate Student Researchers Program in order to cultivate additional research ties to the academic community and to support promising students pursuing advanced degrees in science and engineering. Section I of this handbook summarizes the program and lists the…

Discusses faculty research in community colleges. Describes the rationale; research approaches including literature research, theoretical investigation, and experimentation; funding sources; obstacles; and benefits of faculty research. Lists addresses of five resources. (YP)

Argues that science research support at the undergraduate level should be increased and integrated with instructional programs. Urges the National Science Foundation to create a management plan for undergraduate education that would support such an effort. Identifies potential problems associated with only funding research in graduate…

Reviews the findings of the White House Science Council's survey of the condition of the United States university-research community. Indicates the problems that threaten the quality of academic research and outlines recommendations for its improvement. Funding changes, tax credits, and scholarships are among the panel's suggestions. (ML)

Discusses aspects of quantitative experimental design to help college science faculty investigate college-level science instruction. (PR)

Explains the need, general guidelines, expectations, and advantages of student involvement in research at the undergraduate level. Lists selected research projects conducted by students at Burlington County College. (RT)

Discusses the partnership that exists between a zoo and a college in the linking of research and teaching in undergraduate education for the preparation of future scientists. Lists zoo-related projects conducted by various fields of study. States that this type of relationship promotes student interest in science. (RT)

Discusses the increasing trend toward the pork-barrel funding of science projects, particularly for grants to academic institutions. Addresses the new strategies being employed by opponents of such funding. Describes some of the possible ramifications of the various strategies and the perceived link between science funding and economic growth. (TW)

An assessment of the impact that funding mechanisms had on the productivity and performance of university research is presented in this report. The General Accounting Office (GAO) study focused on five universities that had reputed improvement in program quality. The GAO study concentrated primarily on what funding and other strategies these…

Describes the historical relationships between the federal government and research universities, particularly with regard to scientific research. Argues that the autonomy of the research university is being undermined by the vast increases in federal funding of applied research contracts, especially those related to national defense, including the…

The advantages and justifications for using small animals in human-oriented research are reviewed. Some of the pitfalls of extrapolating animal-derived data to humans are discussed. Several specific problems with animal experimentation are highlighted. (CW)

This document concerns the operation and evaluation of the National Science Foundation (NSF) Engineering Research Center (ERC) program. Included with a general letter addressing the operation of the program are several appendices which attempt to answer the questions put forth in the letter. These appendices include considerations of: (1)…