This presentation outlines a perspective on job analysis and comments on research reported at a symposium with reference to that perspective. The perspective discusses two questions pertaining to job analysis that are referred to as the Stage I and Stage II evaluation operations: What should be done? and How well was it done? Stage I evaluation is…

The paper summarizes and presents counter arguments against positions claiming that randomized experiments in early childhood are unnecessary, impractical, or unethical. It is concluded that more frequent use of randomized experiments in early childhood special education would provide more effective program evaluation data for resource allocation…

Describes the nature and consequences of liberally or improperly applying the traditional reading research methodology and provides an argument for tempering judgments about the relative contributions that experimental studies make to the professional literature in reading. (SKC)

Discusses the various phases of studies designed to determine the best ways to train readers and reading teachers to be "metacognitively aware." Concludes that these studies can be used to prove the superiority of any one technique over another. (FL)

This paper critically reviews administrator work activity studies which follow the research of Henry Mintzberg. It discusses directions for future research using qualitative and quantitative methods and discourages research that relies solely on Mintzberg's structure. (Author/JAZ)

Provides a point-by-point response to the questions raised in Pasnak's review (S0 515 248). Attention is called to design and measurement issues for future research. (Author/JDH)

Argues that there are two flaws in Byrne's research design which indicates that Australian journal literature is not adequately represented in international databases: mixing of analysis levels and the implied assumption that a database that doesn't cover large numbers of journals published in a country has "lost" that country's…

Derives three guidelines for management information systems (MIS) planning research by illustrating similarities between research streams of MIS planning and organizational strategic planning: recognition of MIS planning levels hierarchy and corresponding hierarchy in MIS planning benefits; specific attention to operationalization of constructs;…

Using examples from government program evaluation studies, six areas where research synthesis is more effective than individual studies are presented. Research synthesis can: (1) help match treatment type with recipient type; (2) explain which treatment features matter; (3) explain conflicting results; (4) determine critical outcomes; (5) assess…

Charges that a major problem in the vocational literature is the absence of theoretical formulations which deal with vocational development in more than a superficial manner and proposes a theory of life-span vocational role development. Includes comments by Gottfredson and a reply by the first authors. (JAC)

Argues that the routine use of experimental or quasi experimental designs in educational research often constrains the value of its conclusions. Also critizes educational research for its atheoretical nature and its paucity of conceptual frameworks. (GC)

Analysis of the assumptions underlying the stakeholder approach to evaluation combined with the limited experience in testing the approach reported in this volume, suggests that some claims are cogent and others problematical. (Author)

Glass and Smith's (EJ 207 324) conclusion supporting small class size may be true, but it is not supported by their evidence. Their analysis does not recognize intervening factors and varying class sizes. (CP)

Discusses social science research and policy decisions in terms of a closely scrutinized RAND Corporation project for the United States Commission on Civil Rights. Describes the design process of the RAND proposal for desegregation research and critiques the style of social science associated with technical and theoryless empiricism. (RH)

Distinguishes between "research methods" and "research methodology" in social science research, particularly in the field of comparative education. Discusses the influence of the researcher's theoretical orientation on his or her choice of methods for data collection and data analysis, and the importance of scholars outlining this…