The implications of the concept of fairness, to the level of the day-to-day business of the educational evaluator is explored. Section 2 presents a brief critical examination of the notion of objectivity in evaluation, and introduces the concept of fairness as an alternative focus for qualitative evaluation. In Section 3, there is a discussion of…

Health educators are encouraged to analyze the assumptions they make about health, health education, and health educators. (JD)

B. B. Murdock (2006; see record 2006-08257-009) has interpreted remember-know data within a decision space defined by item and associative information, the fundamental variables in his general recognition memory model TODAM (B. B. Murdock, 1982). He has related parameters of this extended model to stimulus characteristics for several classic…

To be creative, an act must have as its outcome something new in the way it is intelligible and valuable. Computers have restricted contexts of information and have no ability to weigh bits of information. Computer optimists presuppose either determinism or indeterminism, either of which abandons creativity. (MT)

Examines the relationship between autonomy and religiosity. Argues that the latter does not necessarily exclude the former. Outlines a theory regarding the development of religious judgment. Describes basic characteristics of religious education. Discusses questions concerning the universality of religion and the role of atheistic attitudes within…

The standard paradigm of learning--isolated in individual minds, expressed verbally, propositional--distorts the role of judgment. An emerging paradigm based on Dewey and Wittgenstein recognizes the role of action and exercise of judgment; positions knowledge in individuals, teams, and organizations; and includes propositional, cognitive,…

From the standpoint of a journal editor and researcher, this commentary critically reflects on some of the primary notions addressed in the 4 featured articles of the special section, discussing areas of agreement and divergence. As a way of further exploring these ethical and professional concerns, the contentious issue of using school children…

The sum-difference theory of remembering and knowing (STREAK) provides a sophisticated account of many interactions in the remember-know (R-K) area (C. M. Rotello, N. A. Macmillan, & J. A. Reeder, 2004; see record 2004-15929-002). It assumes 2 orthogonal strength dimensions and oblique criterion planes. Another dual-process model (J. T. Wixted…

Some of the most important evaluation questions cannot be answered through experimental research. The "assessment" of the St. Louis Leadership Program (SLLP), sponsored by the Danforth Foundations, is used as an illustration of a "connoisseur-based study" approach to evaluation. The project team, given limited time and funds, decided that it could…

Three types of explanation in evaluation are discussed: causal explanations, explanations of actions, and explanations of value judgments. The role and importance of each form is addressed, as are alternate approaches to providing such explanation. The concept of explanation is defined as anything said or done to help someone understand something.…

Examples of nurses in ancient Greek literature--Euryclea in Homer's "Odyssey," Cilissa in Aeschylus'"Oresteia," and the nurse in Euripides'"Medea"--illustrate the personal commitment in judgment and the obligation of nurses to move from doubt and opinion toward knowledge and certitude. (SK)

Responses discuss the following: unanswered questions (Gerald Greenberg); thinking critically about justice judgments (E. Allan Lind); just and virtuous leaders (Naomi M. Meara); voices of injustice victims (Debra L. Shapiro); justice research and practice (M. Susan Taylor); and the need for experimental research (Kees van der Bos); with rejoinder…

A national movement that claims its purpose is to protect academic freedom and intellectual diversity is beginning to take root in several states. A state legislative panel begins investigating whether Pennsylvania's public colleges and universities are indoctrinating students in left-wing ideology. Student monitors on a campus in Colorado tell…

Recognizing that value involves experiencing pleasure or pain is critical to understanding the psychology of value. But hedonic experience is not enough. I propose that it is also necessary to recognize that strength of engagement can contribute to experienced value through its contribution to the experience of motivational force--an experience of…

The paper discusses the meaning of value and valuing, their roles in evaluation, and the potency of value systems in problem solving logic. Evaluation is defined as a process for facilitating decision making. A decision making situation occurs when there are options which are impossible to treat equivalently, and there is an impact in the…