Advises classroom teachers about research procedures for making critical observations about their students and for conducting useful classroom research. (RL)

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

Many studies have confirmed that mnemonic techniques facilitate the acquisition and retention of information. It was hypothesized that, through the reduction of errors in component memory for dimensions (hypotheses, cues, etc.), such techniques should improve performance on conceptual tasks. (Editor)

Reviews three special-purpose forecasting methods (population-ratio techniques, Bell Telephone method, method of analogy, and multiple-factor method) and three methods of universal applicability (the cohort-survival, percentage- survival, and law-of-growth methods) to help administrators grasp enrollment forecasting technicalities. A comparison…

This review of 50 social validation research studies involving persons with handicaps concludes that social validation procedures are an appropriate and important component of applied behavior analysis. Discussed are methodological issues, social importance of effects, social significance of goals, social appropriateness of procedures, and…

Presents findings of a study of viewers' ability to detect changes in conducting beat patterns. Reports that music education majors were significantly better able to detect tempo decreases than increases and better able than nonmajors to detect decreases. Indicates that nonmajors were better able than majors to identify tempo increases. (SG)

Special educators reading research articles are urged to pay attention to how subject populations of children with disabilities are selected and described. Researchers are urged to disregard educational "categories" of children and to select subjects who demonstrate the variable under study. (DB)

The structure and process of college institutional research is compared with three different ways in which science is conceptualized. It is concluded that, although institutional research has much in common with science, it is distinct because the dynamic nature of institutional research prevents development of a cohesive body of knowledge.…

Useful reference material and a list of professional associations are provided for the institutional researcher interested in qualitative research. (MSE)

Notes that Career Services Center at University of California-San Diego has conducted career surveys of graduating classes since 1982 and has learned how to conduct survey and use survey data. Discusses how to get started in conducting a graduate survey. Explains how to design survey instrument, draft questions, test survey, distribute survey,…

Urges rehabilitation professionals to identify, through scientific studies, the factors that contribute to their client's quality of life on the basis of the client's assumptions, perceptions, goals, and values. Both culturally relevant theoretical foundations and measurement-methodology issues are addressed. (DB)

The role of editors and peer reviewers in detecting and sanctioning scientific misconduct is analyzed, structural problems inherent in the process are examined, and best means of enabling peer and editorial roles in correction of misconduct are discussed. It is argued that the review process plays a limited corrective role. (MSE)

Action learning techniques are well suited to the teaching of organisation behaviour students because of their flexibility, inclusiveness, openness, and respect for individuals. They are no less useful as a tool for change for vocational teachers, learning, of necessity, to become researchers. Whereas traditional universities have always had a…

This study investigated the role of the family in career development and postschool employment outcomes for young adults with learning disabilities. Using a multiple-case study design, the authors examined a set of family structural and process variables. Fifty-nine in-depth interviews were conducted with young adults, parents, and school staff…

Principles of program evaluation research are outlined so that bilingual education program coordinators can conduct methodologically acceptable program evaluations. The three basic principles of evaluation research are: identification of the program participants, definition of the program intervention, and assessment of program effectiveness.…