Identifies significant limitations found in research on smoking behavior including the lack of common definitions of various behaviors, honesty of subject response, the lack of prospective studies, and the preponderance of univariate types of analyses. Presented at the 10th International Conference on Health Education in London, September 1979.…

A method of examining individual variation in responses to Inhelder-Piaget formal reasoning tasks is proposed as a means of identifying cognitive style components of formal reason and as a means of generating more complete descriptions of observable manifestations of formal reasoning. The method is one used by human ethologists and consists of…

Examines several possible difficulties in interpreting the results of studies which employ Piagetian tasks, especially conservation tasks, with older individuals. Notes that Piaget's clinical method allows more flexibility in the assessment of competence than do more quantifiable techniques. Examines the possibility of task misinterpretation by…

This paper examines the major problems which confront researchers who wish to study sensitive topics in family relations. The major obstacles typically encountered are (1) locating subjects; (2) getting cooperation; and (3) obtaining valid and reliable data. A second section of the paper discusses methods of overcoming these obstacles. One…

Three hundred and twenty-seven citations from 1937-1980 are listed in this selective annotated bibliography on ethnographic and qualitative research techniques. It is intended for the novice ethnographer. Listed publications consist of papers, books, journal articles, reports, and workshop notes. The volume is arranged in six parts. Part one…

Characteristics such as prematurity, illegitimacy, handicaps, or behavior deviations have been found with high frequency in abused children. Aggressive/coercive behavior may be typical of child rearing techniques in abusing families who tend to be socially isolated and experience environmental stress. Investigators must interpret such factors with…

Controversy exists regarding the nature of the creative process and strategies which hold maximum promise for accelerating creative production. This paper provides a structural overview of the major problems and issues found in the scientific study of creativity, primarily in regard to dimensionality and criterion choice. (KS)

The physical abuse of children by their parents is a family matter and should be viewed within the context of the family unit. Discusses methodological considerations and parent-related aspects of abusing families, including: characteristics, childhood experiences, and marital relationships of abusing parents. (Author)

Threats to the validity of the Title I Evaluation and Reporting System are covered in two parts: an annotated bibliography of reports concerned with technical issues, and a discussion of threats to validity--from the reporting system in general and from each model in particular. Threats common to all three evaluation models are reported:…

Discusses advantages, limitations, and techniques of oral history and suggests the method's usefulness for educational research. Provides a brief bibliography of works dealing with oral history and of books that have employed the method to the study of the early Afro-American experience. (GC)

A careful review of methodological principles provides a reasonable framework for beginning to sort out the apparently contradictory studies of the psychological consequences of natural disasters. (Author)

An extensive review of the literature on Mexican-American elderly reveals more argument than consensus in interpretation of available data and a tendency for researchers to treat this population as if it were homogeneous. To improve this situation, specific recommendations for future research are offered. (Author)

Concludes that there is no evidence for differential validity in the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) between racial subgroups and that black norms for the MMPI are premature. Criticism of these findings is also presented. (Author/BEF)

Examines Burt's contributions to typographical research on spacing words and texts; use of serifs, and the effects of typefaces, typesizes, and line-length on reading comprehension. In spite of Hearnshaw's (1979) favorable assessment and the wisdom of Burt's sentiments, many of his conclusions were not supported by data. (JAC)