The article examines shortcomings in existing objective measures of mobility for blind persons in the light of evaluative experiences and demonstrates improvements in reliability, together with a new technique for tracking pavement position. It refutes the idea that it is not possible to measure improvement in performance objectively. (Author/CL)

Addresses five questions that must be considered by business communication researchers if the results of surveys are to be significant and useful: What do the researches want to know? About whom do they want to know it? How should the questions be worded? How should appropriate and adequate responses be elicited? and How are the results to be…

This paper is a short tutorial in formal grammar with speculative examples of how it could be used as a research tool for task analysis, the description of lesson structure, the modeling of interactive dialogue, and perhaps the instructional design process. Gagne's notion of "events of instruction" is used in an example of the…

Provides a set of guidelines for evaluating research using structural equation modeling (SEM). Offers insight into how someone familiar with SEM would judge the adequacy of a study using such methods. (Author/RH)

Presents guidelines about how to conduct a public opinion poll and discusses such specific areas as the sample, the questionnaire, the interviewers, and the poll report. (DF)

Explains that Type I error is a risk undertaken whenever significance tests are conducted, and the chances of committing a Type I error increase as the number of significance tests increases. Notes that adjusting the alpha level because of the number of tests conducted in a given study has no principled basis, commits one to absurd beliefs and…

Describes the participant-observation technique for data collection and proposes its usefulness as a research methodology in library science. Procedural steps are outlined and suggestions are offered for successful completion of participant-observation research. (10 references) (Author/MES)

Introduces the process of survey research, focusing specifically on the questionnaire method. Lists and discusses eight essential steps in the process, reviews the relevant literature, and ends with the hope that readers will become better consumers of research and possibly researchers themselves. (SR)

The paper maintains that impact evaluation studies of programs serving handicapped infants and preschoolers should be restricted to scientifically defendable investigations. Specific types of impact studies and an evaluation process are suggested. It is suggested that program leaders should focus evaluation activities on the status of project…

Argues for a multidimensional approach in the study of telecommunications, one that combines critical, historical, and social scientific research and methods. (PD)

Advocates a strong role for research in graduate study in communication, a variety of research approaches, and particularly, more sophistication in data gathering, measurement, and analysis. (PD)

External and implementation factors and their potential threats to field test validity and the practical realities of the field testing process on results are discussed. External factors include site selection, negotiations, contracts, site monitoring, training, and type of product. Implementation factors include motivation, dependence on local…

Presents brief descriptions of research methodologies by social studies educators. Offers examples of the potential research questions each method may suitably address. Concludes by listing several ways to improve the quality of research conducted by each method. (Author/GEA)

Guidelines are proposed to ensure rigor in case studies. Problem representation should be clear and consistent with the original intent of the research. The reader should be able to determine how the evidence was interpreted, conclusions reached, and judgments made. To increase the believability of the case study, the underlying assumptions must…

The dangers of equating "statistical significance" with "real world" significance are summarized. When a finding is said to have "statistical significance," it means only that the same results would be likely to occur again if the study were repeated, not that the finding has any true personal or societal importance. (VW)