The author asserts that each institute has made unique contributions to the understanding of learning disabilities, but that the work of the Minnesota Institute may be misinterpreted and misapplied. Unresolved issues include classification of children, relationship of LD to mental retardation, and collaborative research among institutes.…

The author contends that the current evidence for an attentional deficit explanation of learning disability must be evaluated cautiously. (Author/CL)

The article emphasizes the need for a uniform format for defining the populations selected for research, particularly with learning disabled individuals. The population descriptions from three studies dealing with some aspect of reading are presented and scrutinized in terms of the four categories. (Author/DLS)

The discussion of the history of learning disabilities, emphasizes the lack of a precise definition and the ambiguous nature of etiological duration, and incidence explanations. He asserts that the teacher-therapist must become the major focus of study and research. (CL)

The author explores how researchers' mishandling of abstract constructs, and their linear and atomistic epistemology, serve to further obscure the field of learning disabilities. The alternative suggested involves viewing the problem from an orientation of process, context, and relationship. (Author/CL)

The selection of subjects for research on learning disabilities is a function of contemporary notions about learning disabilities, the purpose of the study and level of knowledge about the topic, and practical constraints. Denigrations of the extant research database, along with unaffordable demands for subject selection and descriptions, threaten…

Although research results generally fail to confirm a consistent relationship between reading performance and visual perception, auditory perception, or modality preference, clinical observations and teachers' opinions suggest the presence of such a relationship. The article reviews the research and suggests factors, including asking the wrong…

Discusses issues inherent in the four meta-analyses of instructional interventions for students with learning disabilities conducted by Gersten and Baker, MacArthur et al; Elbaum and Vaughn, and Swanson. Considers the effects of meta-analyses in general on practice, the effect of including studies that do not meet methodological criteria, and…

Summarizes the responses of six authors to questions on educational research intervention with students having learning disabilities. Notes agreement among the contributors to the discussion that terminology is an issue and that careful selection and description of subject groups is a critical component of intervention research. Identifies twelve…

Critiques K. Kavale's meta-analysis, which reported reliable significant correlations between auditory-perceptual skills and reading achievement. Concludes that Kavale fails to provide evidence that teaching auditory-perceptual skills is useful to learning disabled children unless skills are functional reading skills. (Author/CL)

In response to a paper on risk and resilience models in learning disabilities research, this article suggests two factors that render this framework appealing to special education researchers: its optimistic empowering nature as the trainability of identified resilience factors is assumed and its emphasis on factors external to the individual that…

The author considers reasons for the time delay between research findings and classroom application, examines research on teaching math and spelling to the learning disabled (LD) student, and reviews the status of the controversy over process or modality training for LD students. (CL)

In agreement with Coles (EC 220 146), the article comments on the poor quality of research in the learning disability field, and Coles'"interactivity" theory as an alternative to the neurological-deficit theory which is applied to the problem of classification, intervention, and a societal approach. (DB)

This editorial, introducing a special issue on social-emotional development of students with learning disabilities, reviews general trends in recent research and curriculum development. The editorial presents social-emotional development as the next major area (following cognitive, metacognitive, and behavioral studies) from which meaningful…

Discusses issues inherent in two meta-analyses of instructional interventions for students with learning disabilities conducted by Elbaum and Vaughn, and Swanson. Notes the value of these studies to the field of education, and summarizes important findings. (JPB)