Argues that naturalistic research is appropriate for studying science education. Stages of naturalistic research are explained and illustrated with material from NSF-sponsored Case Studies in Science Education. Problems in traditional research methods are presented as justification for inductive models or models based on multiple methods,…

Interdisciplinary research seems to promise opportunities for new applications of existing resources, for the development of new perspectives, and for reorganization of educational institutions. Demands for problem-orientated research having an important bearing on the development of interdisciplinary research are discussed. (MLW)

Women pursuing scientific careers in higher education institutions confront discouraging patterns of training and unfair employment practices. Numerous studies and evaluations are outlined including: the U.S. Senate's Women in Science and Technology Equal Opportunity Bill, a study by the Evaluation and Training Institute of Los Angeles, and a…

Examined how 147 urban youth evaluated three reporting options available to investigators when a research participant tells them that they are involved in or the victims of behaviors that present different developmental risks. Confidentiality was viewed favorably for risk behaviors of low perceived severity or for which the consequences of adult…

Offers resources for exploring research reform issues in Indian country and following the discourse on the roles of native and nonnative researchers. Provides literature abstracts pertaining to American Indian research reform. (YKH)

Analyzes some of the mistakes made and the lessons learned doing participant-observation research on six special congressional elections. Briefly describes seven of these lessons including schedule strategically, get multiple perspectives, do not overlook details, be a pack rat, and recognizing that some goals and processes are antithetical. (MJP)

Argues for altering the balance between research and teaching at the university level to improve science education for undergraduates. Recommends changing the tenure and promotion guidelines to recognize high-quality teaching, redefining good scholarship to include innovative teaching methods, introducing professional development programs to…

Three teams of prospective teachers created and presented school "portraits" based on research in an elementary school. Their stories revealed that each team moved from an external point of view to one situated in the actions of teaching. Their efforts to construct their own stories had a powerful impact on their knowledge, relationships…

Narrative research creates such political issues as validation of narrative knowledge, relationships of power and authority, and distinction between the public and private domains. Issues examined are the politics of research in a "narrative" mode, which challenges traditional research; issues of power in collaborative research…

A year-long action-research graduate seminar was based on the collaboration of the school district, university, and participating teachers. One year later, 16 participating teacher-researchers reported that they were more competent consumers and producers of educational research. Individual effects ranged from subtle impacts on teachers'…

Discusses the process and the cultural and social capital garnered through external funding of research projects and publications. Ponders questions on who should be considered a peer for a feminist science educator. (DDR)

Illustrates the potential of Exploratory Practice (EP), a form of practitioner research, for doctoral research. Emphasizes learners as well as teacher understanding and explores quality in interpersonal relationships. Reports on research conducted in an English-as-a-Foreign-Language academic writing context, about a written dialogue between a…

Argues that successful recruitment of strong faculty depends on viewing information science as an academic program serving a variety of professional fields and valuing research as the equivalent of teaching. The implementation of these views within the School of Communication, Information and Library Studies, at Rutgers University is described.…

This article reports on a study which investigated the question of whether the motivational and attitudinal components associated with wanting to do well, taking risks, and having a progressive ideology are empirically associated with staff ratings of quality. Subjects were 133 preservice primary teachers in England. (IAH)

Discusses the issue of industry-sponsored research at universities. Gives a case showing the current state of the issue. Describes many other examples including government and foreign industry sponsored research. (YP)