Argues that there should be room for both basic research and applied research in the field of business communication. Suggests asking whether such research is significant and adds value, rather than whether it is relevant. Explains what makes theoretical or basic research significant. (SR)

Points out that good research must be applied, theoretical, rigorous, and relevant all at the same time. Argues for relevant research that develops and tests theoretical constructs that provide useful business knowledge. (SR)

Gives examples of how research can inform practice in correctional education by building theory and providing evidence of impact. Describes information sources: National Center for the Study of Adult Learning and Literacy, National Institute for Literacy, ERIC Clearinghouse on Adult, Career, and Vocational Education, and National Center for…

This introductory article to this special issue on the use of applied behavior analysis (ABA) with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) notes the 40-year history of ABA strategy development, verification, and generalization. It briefly introduces the following articles, which are intended to illustrate the range of ABA applications and the depth of…

A survey of case law, desegregation literature, and four cases in which researchers served as expert witnesses concludes that litigation and court mandates can play an indispensable role in initiating detracking in schools and districts where such reforms are otherwise unlikely. (SK)

John Dewey and the National Research Council NRC both discuss the problem of translating scientific research into contexts of schooling, but differ about the proper solution to the problem. The NRC would solve it by empirical investigation. Dewey finds value in that approach, but also wants educational theorists to construct general heuristics to…

Suggesting that the contention that phonemic awareness must be taught directly and that children need explicit systematic instruction in phonics is less of a scientific "fact" than an exercise in political persuasion, this book presents the story of the political campaign that is taking place to change the minds of Americans about how…

John Dewey's vision of communication posits an important ideal that educational researchers are hard pressed to meet, for the language that facilitates exchanges between scholars often encumbers their attempts to convey their work and findings to a wider, lay audience. The canons of inquiry (of foremost concern to researchers) rarely coincide with…

The potential overlap of teaching and scholarship (research) in mathematics education is described. It is suggested that educational or content research results can play an important role in an undergraduate methods course for elementary mathematics. The typical student is a prospective elementary school teacher, usually with a minimal background…

For many practitioners, reading about or doing research is not seen as a viable means by which to learn about human behavior. In reaction to the non-utility view of research, a number of writers have questioned the validity of the scientist-practitioner model, or reinterpreted the model, or asked psychologists to reconsider the philosophy of…

Three factors are considered that contribute to the perception that the higher education research effort has done a poor job in dealing with problems confronting academe. The first factor is the magnitude of the higher education enterprise and the number of problems and issues inherent in it. The second factor is the level of support for research,…

Teachers cannot afford to ignore the research findings on right and left brain functions. Basically, three things have been discovered: (1) each hemisphere of the brain processes information differently; (2) in some people, the hemispheres work well together, in others they are in a constant state of disagreement; and (3) each hemisphere is…

It has been shown that providing meaningful information to parents helps them to make better child rearing decisions. Considerable literature indicates that parents will often alter their behavior when they see that improved relationships with their children result. Psychologists have an important role to play in communicating to the public that…

Modern reading theories that are concerned with the reading process of either mature or immature readers show no clearcut concern with unit size. The various graphic units that are encountered by the reader include letters, graphemes, clusters (such as blends), syllables, phonograms, affixes and roots, words, phrases, sentences, paragraphs,…

Discusses several recent contributions to reading research and concludes that before changing teaching methods and programs, educators need to consider ends, decide what the ideal is, and develop criteria to achieve that ideal. (FL)