Uses the film, "Dead Poets Society," to illustrate and discuss postmodernist issues in education. Although ostensibly a straightforward narrative of individuality versus conformity there are problematic areas in this film that lend themselves to multiple readings. The film reproduces a number of powerful myths without benefit of a…

This critique of H. Lee Swanson's "Toward a Metatheory of Learning Disabilities" comments on Swanson's concept of learning disabilities, cognitive science, and information processing theory. A different research and theory-building agenda is proposed, focusing on society's definition of learning disabilities and instructional issues and…

Describes two easily applied mathematical theorems, Budan's rule and Rolle's theorem, that in addition to Descartes's rule of signs and intermediate-value theorem, are useful in chemical equilibrium. Provides examples that illustrate the use of all four theorems. Discusses limitations of the polynomial equation representation of chemical…

Discusses research that examined the effects of melodic content and performance tempo on the ability of university music majors to perform previously learned music passages in new settings. Finds tempo accuracy and pitch accuracy were adversely affected by differences between originally learned tempo and tempi at which works were later performed.…

Reviews transaction-cost approaches to organizational analysis, examines their use in microeconomic theory, and identifies some important flaws in the study. Advocates transaction-cost theory as a powerful tool for organizational and strategic analysis when set within the famework of more general organizational theory. Includes 61 references. (MLH)

Particular reference is made to change seen as either a discrete or a continuous process. This topic is discussed in relation to progress and modern trends in biology and physics. Additionally discussed is the development of children's understanding of the process of change in physical and biological phenomena. (Author/RH)

Argues that evidence for radical discontinuities between underlying organizations at different stages is often equivocal and that polarization of views concerning continuities and discontinuities in development may impede understanding. Specifically discusses major reorganizations, behavioral evidence for reorganization during development,…

Identifies four types of theory and their potential roles in communications for guiding teachers; delineates generic characteristics of theories and their implications for such communications; and suggests strategies for communicating theories in guides for practice. (MCG)

Epstein (1974) claims evidence for regular two-year growth spurts in the development of brain and mind, a phenomenon he calls phrenoblysis. Unfortunately, repeated analysis of the data he presents as proof of his theory provides no support. (Author/RH)

Reviews what information and software sciences have thus far accomplished in search for empirical regularities and laws and examines what theories have been developed to explain and account for regularities and laws. Specific laws and theories of information highlighted are those of Zipf, Bradford, Lotka, Mandelbrot, and Simon. (Forty references)…

This book offers insights into the case study as a tool for educational research and suggests how it can be a prime research strategy for developing educational theory. The discussion takes readers through the stages of conducting case study research. The chapters of Part 1, "Reconstruction of Educational Case Study," are: (1) "Why Educational…

In the first part of this paper we discuss the feasibility of using Generalizability (G) Theory to examine the dependability of concept map assessments and to design a concept map assessment for a particular practical application. In the second part, we apply G theory to compare the technical qualities of two frequently used mapping techniques:…

Three studies with overlapping participant populations evaluated Amabile's componential model of creativity, which postulates three major creativity components: (1) skills specific to the task domain, (2) general (cross-domain) creativity-relevant skills, and (3) task motivation. Findings of the three studies support Amabile's model. (DB)

A plural elicitation task and a nominal compounding task were administered to 18 children (age 5-6 years) with specific language impairment (SLI) and 2 control groups. SLI children's performance was affected by input frequency; three explanations within a model of linguistic normalcy are proposed to account for this frequency effect. (Author/DB)

Intended for teachers, students, and researchers of reading, this book reflects the theories, models, and research generated over the past 10 years on the psychology and pedagogy of reading. Essays in the first section of the book deal with the historical changes in reading research and theory, and the pioneers of reading research. Essays in the…