The Education Trust research report "Stuck Schools" suggests a framework for identifying chronically low-performing schools in need of turnaround. The study uses Maryland and Indiana to show that some low-performing schools make progress while others remain stagnant. The report has four serious problems of reliability and validity,…

Collected information on the quality of needs assessments of the elderly from three sources. Found that the overall quality of the majority of needs assessments was so low as to provide little meaningful input to the planning process. Recommends that states focus on the improvement of needs assessment efforts. (Author)

Highlights steps for carrying out a needs assessment survey research effort in the Black community. Stresses the need for understanding (1) cultural-linguistic and historical factors, (2) the potential or inadvertent role of the researcher, and (3) the obstacles and resistance one may encounter in carrying out the survey and implementing its…

A basic survey was conducted to determine the need for educational services of adult Indians throughout the continental United States plus Alaska and Hawaii. The study involved three survey instruments: (1) a field interview administered to over 4,100 Indian adults; (2) a survey of state education association directors; and (3) a survey of Indian…

This monograph contains five papers based on issues that were originally examined at a National Association of Industrial and Technical Teacher Educators symposium that was conducted during the 1983 American Vocational Association convention in Anaheim, California. Included in the monograph are the following papers: "Research in Industrial…

This report discusses considerations involved in placing the evaluation process for criminal justice agencies within an organizational and practical context. The discussion proceeds from the following perspectives: (1) program evaluation is a policy/management tool; (2) various levels of policy and management personnel have numerous and varied…

In this paper it is suggested that current research methods are of questionable validity as they pertain to minorities, but that this problem may be solved by encouraging more minority input into the conceptualization, organization, and implementation of surveys that affect them. All phases of survey research are discussed in detail. Planning…

Extracts highlights about the process and products of needs assessment from 40 major research studies conducted over the past five years. Discusses who conducts needs assessments and why, where needs assessments are going wrong, what has been learned from these studies, and what needs assessments cannot do. (AYC)

Addresses a number of ethical and methodological issues related to research involving vulnerable populations such as the frail elderly, when the research design calls for a control or nonintervention group. Techniques are presented for building a "limited" service component into the research design. (Author)

This volume provides an overview of the tensions, dilemmas, issues, and possibilities that characterize educational research. The contributions of more than 20 researchers examine the state of educational research, its future directions, and some of the major trends that have affected the field. The contributions are: (1) "An Auspicious Moment for…

Status, issues, and future of research in instructional design and technology are described. Several steps are recommended to encourage, improve, and expand collaborative research which fall into four general needs: identifying topics and methods; improving quality and quantity; providing greater opportunities; and increasing dissemination. (MBR)

Asserts that conducting an organizational survey efficiently and effectively requires detailed planning. Provides an outline of the general steps common to organizational surveys but cautions that the process cannot be covered fully in a brief article. Presents a five-phase process and discusses common problems and pitfalls. (CFR)

To develop a perspective for assessing the effectiveness of developmental education, we must develop definitions, values, and criteria that permit consistency in analyzing students' learning needs and educational outcomes and in comparing research on developmental education. Research literature shows that a lack of consistent perspectives for…

Argues that educational computing research has not kept up with the growing importance of educational technology. Examines criticisms of the research: the overtly optimistic tone permeating the majority of the literature, the avoidance of qualitative methodologies, and the distrust of a more theoretical analysis of the role of the computer in…

Describes three classes of measurement techniques: (1) interviewing methods; (2) record retrieval procedures; and (3) observation methods. Discusses primary reasons for measurement error. Concludes that, although measurement error can be defined and controlled for, there are other design factors that also must be considered. (CFR)