This lecture describes and examines some of the problems encountered in educational research and suggests recommended courses of action that may result in a stronger, healthier, and more productive educational research and development (R and D) effort. The remarks are organized around the following headings: (1) "Balancing the Program of Research…

The Research and Development Exchange (RDx) is a network of eight regional educational laboratories, one university-based research and development center, and a consortium of seven state education agencies working to support state and local school improvement efforts. The RDx has four goals, designed to support dissemination and school improvement…

This paper examines the effect of a formal evaluation process upon educational change--specifically, the adoption of innovative reading programs and practices--at different organizational levels of implementation. Because of the size of the project (62 school systems, 142 designated schools, three sets of categorical funded projects), the…

National policy makers have put forth different life cycle planning proposals for the more satisfying integration of education, work and leisure over the life course. This speech describes a decision making scheme, the Time Paradigm, for researched-based choice among various proposals. The scheme is defined in terms of a typology of time-related…

This brief paper presents a sequential walk through a simple research setting--a two group experiment--to indicate common but avoidable design difficulties that may jeopardize the usefulness of the data obtained. The six flaws examined are the failure to select subjects from the population to which generalizations are to be made; failure to use…

This paper takes the position that the oral history approach has great value for educational research, not as a replacement of other procedures, but to augment other data collection approaches. In arriving at this position, various definitions of and theories about oral histories are reviewed, controversy over the validity of the limitations of…

The technique of causal modeling as applied to theoretical constructs in teacher education is demonstrated. The abstract principles of causality are explained, and are applied to various educational research needs. An example is made using data collected from a sample of 44 secondary level students who participated in a one semester student…

Several factors determine whether it is in the interest of educational practitioners to utilize educational research. The first factor is the amount of work that is involved in utilizing research. Anything that makes it easier to use research weakens resistance to utilization. A second factor is the incentive structure of the schools. To motivate…

The field of Asian American Studies was developed partially as a result of the recognition that the history and contemporary concerns of Asian Americans had been neglected or distorted as a field of academic inquiry. Because of its unprecedented nature, the difficulties involved in developing such a program at the University of California Davis…

General extrinsic and intrinsic forces pressing for change in schools are examined, and specific attention is paid to five problem areas that illustrate the complexity of issues facing those who wish to study or facilitate educational change. Extrinsic pressure arises from ongoing societal change in the face of a dichotomy between educational…

It was discovered a few years ago that a child's capacity for academic learning was partially dependent on visual and audio perception. It was also found that the development of perception in these sensory modalities was sometimes deficient. Educators immediately began to devise programs for perceptual-motor training, but ignored the role of the…

Though the resources devoted to educational research are small compared to those devoted to teaching, there is a considerable amount of literature classified as educational research. However, it is still difficult to show a relationship between educational research and the improvement of teaching, and there is not yet an account of the role which…

This document presents four background studies related to one of the major themes of the OECD Conference on Future Structures of Post-Secondary Education. The major thrust of the papers deals with structure of studies and place of research in mass higher education. Topics cover new teaching-research relationships in mass postsecondary education,…

As a recent curriculum innovation replacing Freshman English, the Freshman Investigative Seminar consists of 12 or 13 students meeting for one semester of five weekly class hours, directed by faculty from different disciplines. Its objectives are to lead the student to learn how to gather information from various sources, how to keep accurate…

This paper explores attempts which have been made to close the gap between researchers and policymakers in the social and behavioral sciences. The traditional role of the researcher is viewed as being isolated from attempts to apply research to the world of action. Methods to alleviate this situation are discussed. Educational research and…