Whether the goal is to identify and describe trends and variation in populations, create new measures of key phenomena, or describe samples in studies aimed at identifying causal effects, description plays a critical role in the scientific process in general and education research in particular. Descriptive analysis identifies patterns in data to…

This article presents an innovative model of Continuing Professional Development (CPD) that has been used in Scotland to encourage research and to develop research skills amongst applied educational (school) psychologists. This is a process-based CPD model rather than the traditional "attendance at CPD workshops" model, leading to active…

The article provides guidelines for readers who must read research articles but lack formal training in research and statistics. While discussing the purpose and content of each section of a research article (such as review of the literature, materials and procedures, and results) the author uses actual articles to illustrate her points.…

Methods for encouraging thoughtful use of encyclopedias in elementary school report writing are suggested. (LH)

Suggests how to reduce student passivity in large-enrollment college level classes by directing students to participate in a social survey which involves research replication. (Author/DB)

The paper describes a professor's use of student "research journals" as a means to encourage students to follow proper research methodology in developing a term paper. Students were required to make a dated entry whenever research work was done including topic selection and narrowing, preliminary background reading, aids consulted, online…

Described are methods that secondary students can use in social science research projects. They include case studies, interviews, questionnaires, and participant observation. (RM)

The first of two papers giving basic information about research planning for dental educators inexperienced in research outlines the definitions and types of research and the importance of sound design, adequate support, smooth project execution, and acceptance of the results. (MSE)

A survey of the statistical topics offered to pharmacy students and of the frequency of use of statistical methods in eight pharmacy journals suggests that with increasingly sophisticated statistical methods and increased dependency on literature over experience, pharmacy schools should upgrade students' statistical literacy. (MSE)

Presents a reprint of "Research as an Instrument for Professional Change" from "Shaping Counselor Education Programs in the Next Five Years: An Experimental Prototype for the Counselor of Tomorrow." Other perspectives on the role of research for professional change are offered in five response articles. (JAC)

This article proposes that preparation of a sponsored research proposal is a reasonable alternative to the doctoral dissertation as a means of demonstrating scholarly ability. The skills needed to complete a dissertation are seen as similar to those for developing, writing, and submitting a major proposal for federally sponsored research. (MSE)

An epistemological analysis of bibliographic literature networks is set forth as a useful aid in both teaching and research. A structural-functional treatment of library reference materials is presented and the integration of classroom instruction and library research is suggested. (Editor/LBH)

School counselors need to understand survey methodology even if they do not use it as research practitioners. Counselors can be better consumers of survey research by noting response rates, sampling techniques, reliability and validity in research articles. (JAC)

Outlines an undergraduate geography research methods course that emphasizes bibliographic instruction. Suggests incorporating selected developmental materials. Recommends that students discover materials pertaining to their own areas of interest through systematic search procedures. Includes several sample assignments. (DK)

Contends that qualitative research in geography can be conducted within the constraints of a research methods course. Provides suggestions for using qualitative research fieldwork in a college course. Includes student reactions to the course and constraints on broader use of this methodology. (CFR)