This study examined the effects of alcohol use on the transition experiences and development of eight female freshman college students. The theories developed by Erikson, Chickering, Perry, Kohlberg, Gilligan, Belenky, and Eisenhart were examined and related to student development. A qualitative case study research design involved data collection…

Two important sets of performance indicators for institutions of higher education have become established in the United Kingdom: research quality ratings and teaching quality ratings. The research quality ratings and, to a lesser extent, the teaching quality ratings influence the level of government funding provided to higher education…

Mixed methodology was used in the formative evaluation of an integrated Arts-in-Education program during the first year of a 3-year program involving four schools and three grade levels (grades 2, 6, and 10). A quantitative/qualitative survey instrument was administered to approximately 400 students to help assess the success of the program.…

This handbook, which was written by researchers with expertise in Australia's technical and further education (TAFE) system, provides background information about the following: approaches to research in vocational education and training (VET); the range of methods normally used in research and their the application to VET; and procedures for…

A qualitative study examined the uses to which 14 adult learners put their acquired knowledge from a graduate-level course in organizational behavior both in and outside classroom settings. The course goal was to empower learners to use organizational theory to improve the performance of vocational education personnel. The 14 learners, who ranged…

This evaluation report describes the first year of an innovative attempt by three Chicago-area high schools, IBM, and Ameritech to introduce computing and telecommunications resources into the educational environment. Information presented in this project report was gathered by the evaluation team in over 32 day-long site visits to the schools,…

This 2-year study examined how assistive technologies are used in educational programs for children who have significant multiple disabilities. Naturalistic inquiry incorporated qualitative collection procedures including observations, videotapes of children, and questionnaires and interviews with teachers and parents. Three groups of children…

The development of written language and its functions were studied for 236 second graders (from four locations in the surrounding Birmingham, Alabama area) in 6 traditional and 6 writing process classrooms. Pen pal letters to undergraduates and written samples were obtained from three students from each class. Writing process classrooms reflect…

To gather information on the relationship of parent behavior during reading situations to preschool children's cognitive ability, a study of 12 female and 9 male preschool children and their parents was undertaken. Children were administered a battery of tests that measured intelligence, creativity, perceived self-competence, and language skills.…

The contributions in this volume examine the array of methods used in quantitative, qualitative, and comparative and historical research to show how research sensitive to ethnic issues can best be conducted. Rethinking and revising traditional methodologies and applying new ones can portray racial and ethnic issues as they really exist. The…

This paper describes the second year of a 5-year study of the needs of individuals with disabilities as they relate to consumer products. The study employed focus group research techniques in which group members responded to issues and raised their own concerns regarding general products and equipment specially designed for persons with…

A study was conducted to determine the perspectives of two-year college faculty and students regarding the teaching and learning of literacy. Specifically, the study examined participants' definitions, personal values, and experiences related to literacy instruction/acquisition. Data were gathered from interviews with 12 faculty members and 12…

This paper reviews literature on teaching, learning, and change, focusing on change as a system for self-renewal and examining change in terms of long-term purposes, the risk of failure, self understanding, productive relationships, habits of thinking, and curiosity. The paper presents results from a synthesis of two qualitative case studies of…

The study described in this report examined the ways in which teachers prepare to teach using microcomputers. The participants in the study were four teachers who used computers in instruction, and who had been identified as outstanding by an educational foundation. They represented elementary special education, high school gifted education,…

A 4-year program of naturalistic research on science teaching and learning was conducted in Australia. This program comprised a project entitled Teaching and Learning Science in Schools (TLSS), which ran from 1987-89, and a year of follow-up studies in which some of the major findings from the project were explored further. Participants included 5…