Borrowing the term "translational research" (TR) from medicine, along with some of the ideas and practices that define it, holds promise as a way of linking research more closely to the practice of youth development. However, doing so entails substantial adaptation. TR is more than a new name for applied research. It comprehends the…

There is little discussion in the Design-Based Research (DBR) literature on how to design an intervention that has the potential to be highly effective. The act of designing is usually viewed as engineering something from theory or research on best practices. This paper challenges that universal belief and presents successful design as an…

Cognizant of the research gap in the theorization of mobile learning, this paper conceptually explores how the theories and methodology of self-regulated learning (SRL), an active area in contemporary educational psychology, are inherently suited to address the issues originating from the defining characteristics of mobile learning: enabling…

Performance funding--the linking of allocation of resources to accomplishment of certain desired outcomes--is an idea that is once again finding favor with policymakers. It has intuitive appeal; what's not to like about paying for results? While it is a notion that makes common sense to most decisionmakers, it is an idea with a very checkered…

This article describes a 5-step model of intervention research. From lessons learned in our work, we develop an outline of core activities in designing and developing social programs. These include (a) develop problem and program theories; (b) design program materials and measures; (c) confirm and refine program components in efficacy tests; (d)…

Design-based research is a burgeoning research paradigm holding the promise of introducing more socially responsible studies to transform education. However, there is a lack of methodological standards and established research processes to inform this type of study. Although there are general principles and procedures on design-based research,…

Provides continuing higher education administrators responsible for new program development with an introductory model for conducting feasibility studies. (JOW)

Six case studies are discussed, which illustrate the experimental and pragmatic epistemological paradigms as they function independently, compete with one another, or complement each other. Researchers should consider not only the substantive goals of an evaluation, but also the epistemological goals. (SLD)

The purpose of the focus group design described in this paper was to identify the needs of students in English-as-a-Second-Language (ESL) programs for use by researchers, program designers, and teachers. The pilot focus group consisted of students from various programs who were preparing to take the Test of English as a Foreign Language. They were…

A 5-stage method using an idealized model to identify roles of school system personnel and assess their level of implementation was developed to examine the roles of those school system employees who were or should have been involved in the innovative Curriculum Resources Information Bank (CRIB) project. (SB)

Proposed is a comprehensive instructional design model which (1) suggests a systems-based approach to preparing, implementing, and evaluating instruction at the program syllabus, course syllabus, and instructional unit levels; (2) subsumes those various dimensions of a mastery learning strategy which encompass preconditions, operating procedures,…

The objectives of this project to increase the effectiveness and efficiency of American Indian education through the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) were (1) a system analysis of the BIA schools to identify educational goals and objectives and the critical factors contributing to or impeding eeducational effectiveness in achieving the goals; (2)…

This paper describes a research partnership conducted between Jefferson County (Ky.) Public Schools, the University of Louisville, and the University of Kentucky. The aim of the partnership was to share resources while meeting the different institutions' needs in areas such as research and recruitment. Although effective district and university…

The present state of the art of vocational evaluation is largely manifested within the field of vocational rehabilitation, and as a result, the concepts, instrumentation, and strategies do not lend themselves readily to an educational setting. This project attempted to bridge the gap between the conceptualized model of vocational evaluation within…

The six chapters of this theme issue attempt to define conceptual and methodological issues in the evaluation of integrated services systems and to begin to synthesize some of these issues. An introduction to these evaluation issues is followed by case studies and a discussion of implications for program and policy development. (SLD)