In "Penetrating a Wall of Introspection: A Critical Attrition Analysis," Johannsen, Rump, and Linder strive to give a voice to those whose thoughts might otherwise be unheard: students representing the casualties in the conflict surrounding the practices of STEM education, specifically those in the field of physics. Beyond giving those students a…

Analyzes the attrition dilemma and reviews the methods used to compensate for data loss. Argues that attrition is not utlimately a problem of bias but a problem of lack of information. Offers a reformulation that integrates single-case studies with traditional group comparison methodology in an attempt to find optimal causal relations of…

This introduction to a special issue describes children's injuries in statistical, historical, and social terms. The following key concepts are presented: (1) Childhood injuries are neither random, unavoidable, nor inexplicable; (2) various disciplines suggest different interventions; (3) individuals or populations may be targeted for prevention…

It is difficult to conduct randomized field experiments. In the past decade, the use of alternative randomization plans and incentives has contributed to their operational feasibility; legal, ethical, and professional arguments for experimentation have matured; and expectations have become better aligned with practical constraints that are likely…

The task of graduating educationally disadvantaged students from an institution of higher learning is difficult. This difficulty is compounded because the special needs of these students are largely ignored by the institutions they attend. As a result, a disproportionate number of these students experience early failures. With the help of academic…

Recent developments in medical technology have increased survival rates of children with disabling conditions and chronic illnesses. These children incur direct and indirect medical costs, and existing private and public resources leave gaps in payment and service delivery. New systems are necessary to ensure coordinated community care for all…

One of the six national goals in the United States is to achieve a 90 percent graduation rate by the year 2000. In the last 50 years, high school graduation has become the norm. Concurrent with the new expectation of high school graduation came the dominance of the word "dropout" to describe those without diplomas. Many Americans view…

Discussion of possible applications of the microsimulation approach to analysis of population policy proposes compulsory sterilization policy for all of India. Topics covered include India's population problem, methods for generating a distribution of couples to be sterilized, model validation, data utilized, data analysis, program limitations,…

Reviews controversial Milwaukee Project which utilized early intervention efforts with 17 children at risk for mental retardation. Discusses methodological problems that cast doubt on validity of results. Contends that project does not support hypothesis that early intervention for children at risk for mental retardation will result in meaningful…

Scientific research that is conducted without the structure of a supporting scientific paradigm should be labeled pseudoscience in that such research is deceptive or false science. It is argued that much of the research in educational technology is pseudoscience, with the focus on learner control research. Learner control is the design feature of…

The findings of the Cost, Quality, and Child Outcomes (CQO) study in Child Care Centers, the largest and most visible child care research conducted in the 1990s, were widely publicized and used to promote increased spending on initiatives to improve child care quality, the redesign of subsidy systems to provide quality incentives, more stringent…