A meta-analysis of findings from 24 controlled evaluations showed computer-assisted instruction (CAI) usually has positive effects on adult learners, i.e., it raised examination scores and reduced instruction time. Reliable conclusions could not be reached on CAI's long-term cognitive effects because of small number of studies investigating such…

Statistical methods employed by Alexander and Pallas do not negate the differences between public and private school students' achievement. Instead, their work supports the conclusion that Catholic schools help average students achieve by increasing the likelihood of their enrollment in the academic track and by enhancing their performance in the…

Noting the fascination of both researchers and the general public with possible gender differences in human cognition and whether these differences originate in biology, childhood influences, or cultural stereotypes, this book summarizes research studies on gender differences in cognition. The book examines social and cultural implications of this…

This essay examines the ways in which education, as a discipline, has been influenced by feminist scholarship in the field. It explains that foundational studies by feminist scholars have examined sexual differences in identity and ways of knowing, and have challenged the arrogation of feminine experience and viewpoints to generalizations of male…

Discussion of characteristics of users of computer-mediated communication systems and scientific networks focuses on a study of the scientific community in Chile. Topics addressed include users and nonusers; productivity; educational level; academic specialty; age; gender; international connectivity; public policy issues; and future research…

The importance of using data collection and analysis procedures to monitor academic and social behavior progress of students with emotional and behavioral disorders is the focus of this article. After reviewing literature supporting the efficacy of data collection procedures used in classrooms for students with disabilities, issues regarding the…

How objective are the research methods of sociologists? Is the scientific method more or less bias-free or truthful than other methods? Even assuming that the scientific method is the best or most truthful method presently available to sociologists, how do researchers know which theory to test? This paper, an introductory essay to a college…

A review of literature on technology and second language (L2) instruction focused on the use of seven different technologies: television/videotapes/tape recordings; hand computers; computer conferencing; electronic mail (e-mail); multimedia and hypermedia; computer-assisted language learning; and machine translation. A secondary purpose of the…

This compilation presents five papers on issues and research in special education. "Qualitative Research in Special Education: An Evaluative Review" (Charles A. Peck and Gail C. Furman) explicates some of the epistemological assumptions underlying qualitative research methods, reviews examples of qualitative research, evaluates the contributions…

A discussion of second language program evaluation focuses on the interpretability of test scores as a criterion in program evaluation. It looks at both test design and research design issues. First, eight method-comparison, program evaluation studies that compare acquisition-based and analysis/practice based methods are described. Acquisition…

This paper outlines the current state of knowledge about how intellectual competence is acquired. Implications resulting from recent changes in the psychology of learning and development are beginning to revitalize the science of learning and instruction. Four broad topics illustrate the links between instructional experiments, fundamental…

This book contains 20 articles, from a wide variety of perspectives, designed to bridge the interests of researchers and teachers on the topic of current composition research. The following articles are included: "Studying the Writing Abilities of a University Freshman Class: Strategies from a Case Study" (Charles R. Cooper, with Roger…

The inconsistency of results to be found in the study of the impact of school desegregation arises in part from the failure to appreciate the complexity of the phenomenon. This report takes a broader view of school desegregation; the basic dependent variables are school level means in the following basic areas: (1) racial attitudes, (2) political…

This report, addressed to the broad audience of cognitive scientists, examines research on cognitive change. In the introduction, background considerations are made, previous research is reviewed, and the report itself is outlined. The first chapter, "Finding Goals Outside the Laboratory," discusses how laboratory tasks can obscure research goals…

Findings of a review of research pertaining to federally subsidized school nutrition programs are presented in this report. The review of research, the first phase of the National Evaluation of School Nutrition Programs, is intended to provide guidance for the design of subsequent evaluation (including student, parent, and food administrator…