The choice of a common metric for the meta-analysis (quantitative synthesis) of correlational and experimental research studies is presented and justified. First, a background for the problem of identifying a common metric is presented. Second, the percentage of accounted variance (PAV) is described as the metric of choice, and reasons are given…

Presents results of two studies supporting the hypothesis that attribution of more aggression to boys may be a function of observer bias. Reports that some forms of instruction eliminate sex-typed biases while others yield significant biases. Discusses implications pertaining to the socialization of aggression and to research on sex differences in…

The major emphasis of the National Longitudinal Study of the High School Class of 1972 (NLS) has been directed toward individuals in the 1972 high school graduating class. Consequently, sampling parameters were established to ensure student representation, and the bulk of data collected were individual-level data. School-level data exist on a…

Discusses the problem of fraud in scientific research and provides background on the medical research fraud case of John Darsee in 1981. Results of analysis of citations to Darsee's publications are reported, indicating that his work continues to be cited positively; and the dangers of fraudulent research are considered. (28 references) (MES)

Criteria for suitable research designs for use with large databases are suggested and analyzed. The advantages and disadvantages of several types of quasi-experimental designs are compared. Examples are taken from the authors' research with data from the Manitoba Health Services Commission. (Author/AL)

This paper provides a summary of a baseline study of Canadian child welfare services from 1959 to 1977. The nation-wide study relates main trends in the services to a background of demographic, social, legislative and organizational change. Progress of the research project is outlined to illustrate some of the constraints on research in Canada at…

Examines issues associated with the design of and statistical inferences from embedded experiments which vary the questionnaire content into sample surveys of broad populations. Provides an example of context effects in attitude surveys, a summary, and conclusions. (RT)

Reports on the work of the Center for the Study of Community Colleges in helping two-year colleges to define and establish their rates of transfer. Presents the outcomes of 1990 forums where study participants discussed problems and issues in data collection. (DMM)

A report is made of a study to analyze the effects of a human relations component in an introduction to education course on the self concept and interpersonal relations of secondary preservice teachers. Forty-four preservice teachers were divided into experimental and control groups with the experimental group receiving 14 weeks of validated human…

Describes a random effects discrete time survival model that addresses problems of measurement error and sample design complexities. Demonstrates the effectiveness of the model in an analysis of retrospective report data on the age of onset of smoking from two cross-sectional school-based studies. (JPB)

This document introduces research aimed to explore methods that could be used to make inferences about causual effects of educational change over time when data are from an educational panel. This preface, the first in a series of 14 chapters described in SO 011 760-772, discusses an educational research project designed to examine affects of…

School people are accustomed to researchers soliciting their participation in studies; and they feel, with some justification, that these studies end up rewarding the researchers and not the subjects. We tackled this problem by designing a study where each teacher was the researcher and the object of study was her own teaching. This approach gave…

The retrospective case history is a little-used, but very valuable tool in organizational theory research. It is particularly useful in illuminating variables in an organization's development which, in controlled experimentation, would require prohibitively long periods of time to materialize. Additionally, the technique is useful for generating a…

This technical report discusses the development of a framework for identifying a battery of measures to be used in evaluating Head Start program effects on children 3 to 7 years of age. The report consists of an overview and five chapters, and provides eight appendices (in two additional volumes). Among the topics addressed are background…

This is the final report from a three-year project to develop and provide information to assist in setting national priorities for research and development in vocational education. The major objective of the third year was to obtain a more future-oriented perspective on needed research and development. To accomplish this objective, papers and…