Describes a study that investigated how to teach computer skills to undergraduate female novice users through the design of an instructional manual that facilitated learning computer skills and increased computer self-efficacy by using familiar analogies. Treatment of the experimental and control groups is explained, and measurement techniques are…

A framework for understanding methodological practices from the perspectives of internal validity, external validity, statistical control validity, and construct validity is presented. One hundred doctoral dissertations completed between 1980 and 1988 at a single urban public university were analyzed for various methodological practices and types…

Describes a study of third-grade students in Israel that examined the differential effects of cooperative and individual computer-assisted instruction on mathematics achievement, amount of invested mental effort, academic recognition, and social acceptance of high and low achieving students. Theoretical and empirical implications are discussed,…

Examined 585 African Americans' attitudes toward drug use in Atlanta (GA) and Washington (DC). Findings reveal that marital status, age, home ownership status, and education accounted for differences in attitudes toward drug use among Atlanta residents; while family income and marital status differences in drug use were found among residents of…

Describes a study that investigated the effects of computer programing activities, supplemented with problem-solving strategy instruction, on programing skills and on learner attitudes toward computers and toward problem-solving skills. The instruction of elementary students in LOGO and junior high students in BASIC is described, and further…

A content analysis was conducted of three educational research journals published by the American Educational Research Association to review the quantitative and qualitative techniques used in educational research. All articles appearing in these three journals from 1988 through 1995 (total n=1,715) were considered. Research methods were…

Describes research that investigated the study strategies of preservice teachers through the use of a hypertext program that monitored lecture note review strategies of individuals and dyads. Highlights include learning from lectures; the use of pretest information; and differences in dyad and individual review strategies. (Contains 28…

Describes a study that examined the extent to which different levels of instructional control and varied learner characteristics affected performance and time on task, using interactive video in a college biochemistry course. Prior knowledge and learner internality/externality are discussed, and interaction between learner ability and…

Describes a study that examined the effects of cooperative versus individual computer-based instruction on the performance of high- and average-ability fourth-grade students. Effects of learner and program control are investigated; student attitudes toward instructional content, learning in groups, and partners are discussed; and further research…

Describes a study that investigated the use of the computer as a tool for improving high school students' correlational reasoning skills. Treatment of experimental and control groups is described; previous studies of tool-mode computer-based instruction are reviewed; and cooperative group learning and student attitudes are discussed. (Contains 44…

A broad spectrum of methodologies pertinent to studies of schooling effects are reviewed. Methodological issues and problems are addressed according to a three-dimensional conceptual framework: (1) indicators of schooling effects; (2) study approaches; and (3) units of analysis. Problems and uses of status attainment and difference scores as…

Describes a study of undergraduate students that investigated the effects of two types of learner control and two types of incentives--task-contingent and performance-contingent--on learners' achievement, attitudes, use of options, and time on program using computer-delivered instruction. Implications for instructional design and research are…

Most undergraduate programs require completion of a mathematics course, but pass rates in these courses are often low. To determine predictors of student success in 100-level mathematics courses at the University of Southern Maine, we used a questionnaire to collect information on possible predictors of grade (student demographics, attitude,…

This report investigates low academic achievement and high dropout rates among Hispanic female students in San Diego (California) City Schools. The study examines factors contributing to the academic success of high achieving Hispanic female students and looks at causes of lower achievement among other Hispanic females. It also identifies…

Dissertations are an important component of the effort to generate knowledge. Thus, dissertation quality may be seen by accreditation and coordinating-board reviewers as a noteworthy reflection on the quality of doctoral programs themselves. The present study reviews methodological errors within Ph.D. dissertations. The illustrative errors are…