This monograph contains five papers that discuss an eco-behavioral approach to psychology, special education, and applied behavior analysis. The papers point out the advantages of assessing ecological factors (such as natural stimuli and special education procedures) in a quantitative fashion and in a temporal relationship with student behavior.…

One of the most appropriate quasiexperimental approaches to compensatory education is the regression-discontinuity design. However, it remains underutilized, in part because of the need to clarify the link between the mathematical model and administrative decision-making. This paper explains the derivation of a program efficiency index congruent…

The Comprehensive Education Reform Act of 1984 (CERA) provides the mandate and framework for the Tennessee Career Ladder Program for teachers and administrators. The development and structure of the Tennessee Career Ladder Plan for teachers, a five level program which provides for teacher certification based upon performance, is discussed in this…

This investigation of the use of database management systems (DBMS) in a research environment used the Rand Corporation as a case study. After a general introduction in section 1, eight sections present the major components of the study. Section 2 contains an overview of DBMS terminology and concepts, followed in section 3 by a general dsecription…

Describes the design and operation of a prototype online catalog; reviews research which evaluated the system in terms of types of searches and success rates; and offers suggestions for enhancing subject access, including automatic stemming, synonym tables and cross-reference lists, and relevance feedback mechanisms. (CLB)

This report summarizes a three-year project to design a graduate level course in ethics and scientific research at Dartmouth College (New Hampshire). The goals of the project were: (1) to train faculty to teach a course in research ethics, (2) to pilot-teach a graduate course in ethics and scientific research, and (3) to develop teaching materials…

This paper presents a complex, hybrid, method of cost analysis of online courses, which incorporates data on expenditures; student/course enrollment; departmental consumption/contribution; space utilization/opportunity costs; direct non-personnel costs; computing support; faculty/staff workload; administrative overhead at the department, dean, and…

Defines and discusses a definition of critical thinking. Maintains that college students improve their learning effectiveness when they are engaged actively and invested personally. Describes student evaluation techniques used to enhance thinking skills. (CFR)

This study of 63 students (in grades 2-8) with mild to moderate disabilities found that students in classrooms using curriculum-based measurement (CBM) achieved better than controls on reading measures. The study also found that students of teachers who received CBM expert system instructional consultation achieved better than others on written…

The integrity of research conducted in academic institutions should not be compromised in the conflict between the scientific community, public agencies, and legislators over oversight of federally funded projects. Integrity can be protected through prevention of abuse in researcher recruitment and training and through partnership between faculty…

This book grew out of a conference sponsored by the Educational Testing Service and the University of Wisconsin's National Center for Research in Mathematical Science Education that focused on assessment issues in mathematics education. The book's 16 chapters focus on clarifying and articulating the goals of assessment and instruction. They are…

The annual report presents 1987 activities of the Transition Institute at the University of Illinois which was contracted to assist in evaluating and extending the federal initiative relating to educational and employment difficulties experienced by young people with disabilities. Briefly reported are activities related to the contracted tasks of…

This research examined the results from direct and indirect writing assessments to determine the most effective method of discrimination. The New Jersey State Department of Education developed a test for ninth-grade students which was designed to measure the ability to apply writing mechanics to written text and to communicate effectively in…

These papers were presented as a symposium on the revision of the general education program at the University of Montevallo (UM) in Alabama. The first paper, "Introduction to Evaluation of General Education at the University of Montevallo," by Patricia S. Ernest and Elizabeth H. Rodgers, describes the core curriculum study and the 13…

This handbook: (1) describes the educational research program of the Planning Services Branch of Alberta (Canada) Education; (2) outlines projects underway for 1986-87; and (3) describes projects completed between April 1985 and July 1986. Section 1, "The Educational Research Program," describes priorities, guidelines, and procedures for…