Teacher action research seeks to bring together action, reflection, theory, and practice; and it is acknowledged as a way to value and honour teachers' practical knowledge. The purpose of this article is to conceptualize teacher action research as "Bildung," applying Gadamer's philosophical hermeneutics as a theoretical…

This chapter is a case study of the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching's Pathways [TM] program. The goal of the Statway [Registered Trademark] and Quantway [Registered Trademark] pathways is to improve the success rate of community college students who place into developmental mathematics. What makes these programs unique is…

Contends that structural equation modeling is appropriate whenever models of relationships among variables need to be estimated and tested. Answers some common questions about the methodology of structural equation modeling. Describes the Linear Structural Relations computer program and its use. Concludes that structural equation modeling is a…

Describes hermeneutic approach to counseling research, including basic rationale for use of hermeneutic method in study of values and counseling and description of philosophical and procedural framework of the approach. Illustrates hermeneutic analysis through example of this type of research that focuses on the language of counselors as it…

Focusing on psychotherapy research, illustrates methods for studying mediator and moderator variables in meta-analysis, discusses their advantages and disadvantages, and shows how inclusion of these variables can change interpretation of meta-analytic results. Notes that therapeutic orientation may make significant difference to outcome but only…

Item response theory (IRT) methodology is introduced as a tool for improving assessment instruments used with people who have disabilities. Need for this approach in rehabilitation is emphasized; differences between IRT and classical test theory are clarified. Concepts essential to understanding IRT are defined, necessary data assumptions are…

The author discusses a method to produce a cluster of focused nursing research projects. Her method includes (1) focal topic identification, (2) development, (3) communication, (4) integration, (5) collaboration, and (6) balance. (CH)

Debates the value of experimentation as a tool in educational research. (MK)

Presents conceptual framework for family therapy process research that integrates new process perspective with family systems theory. Focuses on circular interaction, over time, between and within therapist and family systems/subsystems. Explains empirical implications of each framework component. Concludes with three methodological criteria for…

Sees soft data, measures having substantial intrasubject variability due to errors of measurement or response inconsistency, as important measures of response in randomized clinical trials. Shows that using intensive design and slope of response on time as outcome measure maximizes sample retention and decreases within-group variability, thus…

Discusses problems and issues of psychotherapy process research. Notes complexity of research that attempts to combine process and outcome adequately. Suggests that more than one therapeutic orientation be studied in specific project to include some type of control. Cautions that, although statistically significant correlations between process and…

Distinguishes between treatment process and outcome research. Suggests research questions that might be addressed, describing areas within process and outcome research that would be applicable to studying adult survivors of sexual abuse. Identifies methodological issues in these process and outcome research areas to which researchers must be…

Identifies two significantly different calls for methodological reform in counseling psychology: one paradigm which proposes to replace quantitative methods with qualitative ones, and second paradigm which proposes methodological diversity whereby qualitative methods supplement quantitative ones. Compares two positions in terms of rhetoric,…

Reviews basic tenets of structural modeling in relation to issues in research and practice involving clinical assessment. Compares approach with more traditional psychometric approaches to validation of assessment instruments with children. Discusses arguments for and against inclusion of nonexperimental variables in causal studies aimed as…

In the educational research literature, alpha and p are often conflated. Paradoxically, alpha retains a prominent place in textbook discussions, but it is often supplanted by p in the results sections of journal articles. Because alpha and p have unique uses, researchers should continue to employ both conventions in summarizing the outcomes of…