This article is the second contribution to a research methods series dedicated to getting good results from survey research. In this series, "good results" is a stenographic term used to define surveys that yield accurate and meaningful information that decision makers can use with confidence when conducting program evaluation and policy…

The World Wide Web provides a convenient source of databases and examples of survey resources for those who teach research methods. For example, lottery numbers as sources of data, demographic-based search engines, and surveys and their results can be found on the World Wide Web. These can stimulate discussion and lead to student analyses…

Findings from a survey that examined the vast scope of research training in counseling psychology programs and topical areas that are addressed in dissertation research are presented in this paper. The questionnaire included both open- and closed-ended questions and were completed by 166 recent graduates of doctoral programs in counseling…

This guide explains what the Educational Resources Information Center (ERIC) database is and how it can be used by parents to learn more about schooling and parenting. The guide also presents sample records of 55 documents in the ERIC database. The cited resources are particularly relevant to parents' concerns about meeting children's basic needs,…

The computerized morphological parser, AMPLE, grew out of work in computer assisted dialect adaptation. AMPLE contains no language-specific code, but is controlled entirely through external, user-written files, the notations of which were designed for linguists. AMPLE's constructs are linguistic: e.g., allomorph, morpheme, conditioning…

Noting that there are signs of a relaxation in the long tension caused by the methodological "cold war" between quantitative and qualitative research proponents, this paper points to communications research as one area where the trend is developing. Placing communications studies in the framework of current public attitudes toward…

Developed as part of a research program directed at obtaining reliable persuasive effects, the two sets of persuasive messages provided in this report--consumer messages and sociopolitical messages--discuss fictitious brands of consumer products and various sociopolitical issues. The consumer messages were developed for the following 12 products:…

A practical guide to conducting and reporting graduate-level research projects outlines each step in the research process and discusses both practical and theoretical considerations. Chapter 1 addresses idea and topic development. Chapter 2 discusses the purposes, procedures, and sources for literature reviews and searches. In chapter 3, the…

This combination guide and bibliography is designed to assist students enrolled in classes in the criminal justice/corrections field. Step-by-step guidelines for writing a term paper are presented along with a bibliography listing resources dealing with corrections and criminal justice that are available in the Chicago State University library.…

DATA FROM THE PARAGRAPH ORGANIZATION PORTION OF THE CEEB ENGLISH COMPOSITION TEST (ECT) WERE CONVERTED TO THE ORIGINAL RANK-ORDER AND WERE THEN RESCORED BY THREE SYSTEMS USING SPEARMAN'S RHO TO DETERMINE WHICH METHOD YIELDED SCORES THAT CORRELATED BEST WITH TOTAL ESSAY SCORES. TWO OF THE METHODS INVESTIGATED, ONE IN WHICH THE NUMBER OF SCORES WAS…

This paper argues that if researchers studying a recognized category of behavior, such as fantasy play or aggression, were to focus on prototypical instances of the behavior, there should be high inter-researcher agreement of just the sort that operational definitions were intended to secure. A study of fantasy play was conducted using a paradigm…

A "Research Conference on the Use of Autobiographical Data as Psychological Predictors" brought together 15 research psychologists to discuss means of maximizing the use of autobiographical instruments. The purposes of the conference were to: (1) reveal experiences, statistical data, and psychological insights developed through research and the…

The author contends that the secondary analyst may have a different perspective and theoretical persuasion than the original investigator, may have the advantage of more current theory and practices than those originally available, may move beyond the substantive and methodological limitations of the original investigation, and may not be faced by…

Followup is a process by which an educational institution seeks to determine how effectively it is meeting the current and future needs of those it serves. Various research, administrative and student personnel at district and state levels helped develop these guidelines, which are intended to give assistance to vocational, technical, and adult…

This instructional module is intended to present an overview of the interviewing process and to describe and allow practice in the basic skills and techniques of conducting a survey research interview. The module is designed for both undergraduate and graduate courses in research methods or as part of any established course in education or social…