Klingner and Boardman (this issue) offer a cogent and compelling argument for opening the door for the acceptance and use of mixed methods in special education research. Self-identifying as pragmatists, they embody this paradigmatic view by focusing on the utility, efficacy, and accuracy of mixed methods, an argument that should appeal to the…

Much of the current research concerning reliability emphatically suggests that researchers should gather their own reliability estimates when administering an instrument. It has also been recommended that data with low reliability be discarded. While some data obtained from instruments that originally yielded reliable results may be unreliable, it…

In this first of two installments, a description of the interactions of numerical databases (NDBs) for science with the various community sectors highlights data evaluation and the roles that NDBs will likely play. Twenty-four studies and articles dealing with needs for reliable physical, chemical, and mechanical property data are noted. (EJS)

Problems inherent in relying solely on statistical significance testing as a means of data interpretation are reviewed. The biggest problem with statistical significance testing is that researchers have used the results of this testing to ascribe importance or meaning to their studies where such meaning often does not exist. Often researchers…

Educational researchers have claimed that the quantitative and qualitative approaches to educational inquiry are, indeed, compatible. However, it would be unfortunate to discontinue this debate. The quantitative-qualitative debate began with the interpretive approach to social inquiry. Dilthey argued that since cultural/moral sciences differ from…

Discusses a history professor's attempt to awaken students' interest by assigning an oral history project rather than a traditional research paper. Reports that adding to the personal dimension to the project increased students enthusiasm and introduced them to problems of historical research and historiography. Includes problems of reliability…