Statistical measures of practical significance report the extent to which variation in the dependent variable can be explained by the independent variable. Reports of special education research sometimes discuss practicality using the estimate of statistical significance. Practical significance, however, may vary greatly among samples even though…

Focuses on problems in making machine-readable data files (MRDFs) accessible and in using them: quality of data in MRDFs themselves (social scientists' concern) and accessibility--availability of bibliographic control, quality of documentation, level of user skills (librarians' concern). Skills needed by social scientists and librarians are…

Using St. Bonaventure's program as an example, claims that undergraduate journalism students can benefit from studying research theory and methodology and then applying it in their senior year. Indicates that these programs help overcome faculty inertia over quantitative analysis and that surveys and content analyses represent the most popular…

Suggests that dominance can be defined as asymmetry in predictability in social variables of importance, and bidirectionality as symmetrical predictability. Procedures which address the concepts of cyclicity within a person and synchronicity between people and which assess asymmetry and symmetry in social interaction are discussed. (Author/RH)

Levitan (Chairman of the National Commission on Employment and Unemployment Statistics) and Belous question the usefulness and accuracy of current methods of compiling unemployment statistics. Better measurements of labor market performance are crucial because of the ways such data are used to allocate funds and to form policies for combatting…

Advantages and disadvantages of a test item analysis method for producing item banks are discussed with respect to different teaching methods, curriculum, and the examination system. (MP)

Contrasted are engineering statistics with statistics for students of mathematics and social science. Topics considered are level of abstraction, amount of technical detail, and choice of subject. The nature of exercises suitable for various courses is described. (KR)

Criticizes the large amount of often irrelevant, poorly designed, and poorly written quantitative journalism research. Notes that journalism education and mass communication education research published in scholarly journals is largely ignored by professional journalists, who find more value in the qualitative research reported in the journalism…

Counters the popular misconception that poverty is linked to adolescent values that result in pregnancy and irresponsibility. Suggests the following research agenda: (1) reinterpretation of census data; (2) a focus on individual decision-making and systemic forces; (3) dissemination of data; and (4) investigation of father's role. (FMW)

Demonstrates a statistical model that can be used to develop graphical displays of uncertainty in student grade level placements versus their potential attainment. Suggests how the model can help determine how well the British National Curriculum assessments are working. (SK)

Research as a means to advocacy is discussed in this commentary on the research articles published in volume 16, issue 3 of "Remedial and Special Education." The role of quantitative and qualitative methods is considered, along with the researcher's ideological perspectives on research, and the importance of generating knowledge that promotes…

Educational theory should be the foundation for most practice and research, but this is not a one-way relationship. Good inductive research may help to develop theory instead of coming from it. The relationship of theory to research can be different in qualitative research than in quantitative research. Practice can and should also inform and be…

This chapter discusses the "person approach" to studying developmental processes by focusing on the distinction and complementarity between this holistic-interactionistic framework and what has become designated as the variable approach. Particular attention is given to measurement models for use in the person approach. The discussion on the…

Correlational methods are compared to an alternative method based on decision theory and logistic regression for providing validity evidence for college admissions and course placement criteria. The advantages and limitations of both methods are examined. The correlation coefficient measures the strength of the linear statistical relationship…

This paper addresses the conditions under which quantitative and qualitative research methods could be combined in special education. The paper asserts that qualitative designs have not had a significant effect on special education research and speculates that mixed-method research might be more acceptable to special education researchers or…