The accelerating rate of data generation and resulting publications are taxing the ability of scientific investigators to stay current with the emerging literature. This problem, acute in science, is not uncommon in other areas. New approaches to managing this explosion of information are needed. While it is only possible to read one paper or…

The Long Duration Exposure Facility (LDEF) has been designed to take advantage of the two-way transportation capability of the space shuttle by providing a large number of economical opportunities for science and technology experiments that require modest electrical power and data processing while in space and which benefit from postflight…

A high school honors biology class project is described in which students write a research paper on a topic for which there is presently no known answer. This technique familiarizes the student with the mechanics of research and of writing a research paper. (BB)

Offers definitions for four general categories of research--practical, bibliographical, scholarly, scientific--and discusses connections of research to librarianship, the introduction of scientific research methodology in librarianship, activities related to scientific research, users of research, faculty status, professional organizations and…

Researchers, historians, and philosophers of science have debated the nature of scientific research in education for more than 100 years. Recent enthusiasm for "evidence-based" policy and practice in education now codified in the federal law that authorizes the bulk of elementary and secondary education programs have brought a new sense…

Underlying bases for federal interest in experimentation on human subjects, including abuses of investigative processes and efforts at regulation, are explored. Focus is on recent HEW rules on the protection of human subjects, which will have a significant impact on many research institutions. (LBH)

In the largest settlement of its kind, New York University has agreed to pay the federal government $15.5 million to resolve charges that it submitted false information to obtain inflated reimbursements for costs associated with research grants. At least four universities are being investigated on similar grounds. The Clinton Administration issued…

Courts in New York and Texas have imposed limits on psychiatric research involving involuntarily institutionalized patients as subjects, citing state and constitutional protection of privacy, due process, and equal protection. Some are concerned that mental health research and treatment will suffer. (MSE)

Discusses the social structure of scientific communication and considers the opportunities and challenges offered by the increased use of electronic networks. Topics addressed include the research process and the role of communication, assumptions about the effects of electronic networks, benefits and problems of networking, and issues related to…

The main differences between pragmatism and scientific realism seem to focus on the certainty of knowledge. Pragmatists contend that one can never be entirely certain of one's beliefs, whereas scientific realists argue that progress has been, and can be, made in explaining things about the world. (SLD)

Designed to assist in the study of techniques for and approaches to the evaluation of scientific research, this annotated bibliography of publications deals with qualitative and quantitative indicators of the quality of science. Entries are provided in the following categories: (1) bibliometric indicators of the quality of scientific research; (2)…

This book constitutes the proceedings of a symposium ("Science, Deviance, and Society") designed to provide a constructive response to the social problem of deviance in science (departures from the prescribed and proscribed norms of science). Individual papers are presented in five parts. These papers are (in part one) "The Games of Science:…

Presents summaries and evaluations of some 250 recent researches and developmental studies in chemical education. Identifies existing trends in the various research areas, and suggests future research needs and priorities. (GA)

The evolution of the definition of scientific misconduct in two federal agencies, the Public Health Service/National Institutes of Health and the National Science Foundation, is examined, and the resulting regulatory definitions are contrasted. Further change is anticipated as the definitions are criticized and challenged. (MSE)

Since the use of bibliometric instruments has grown and will continue to grow in the future, the quality, availability, and accessibility of data on publications and citations is of tantamount importance. But equally important is a correct use of the data. This means that an important task of the bibliometric field is to highlight not only what…