This article by Dr. Mahmoud M. S. Abdallah provides a comprehensive guide to formulating a research problem in education and language learning, particularly for TESOL/TEFL researchers. It emphasizes the importance of a well-defined research problem as the cornerstone of any research project, guiding the selection of methods, data collection, and…

This "What Works Clearinghouse Procedures and Standards Handbook (Version 3.0)" provides a detailed description of the standards and procedures of the What Works Clearinghouse (WWC). The remaining chapters of this Handbook are organized to take the reader through the basic steps that the WWC uses to develop a review protocol, identify…

The paper discusses ethical issues in research with abused children and consequences of various methods of handling these dilemmas. Ethical questions arise at three stages: (1) obtaining consent for participation; (2) conducting interviews with Ss or administering tests; and (3) providing information about test results to parents or others outside…

Problems encounterd in conducting attitudinal research include difficulties with sampling procedures, attitudinal measurement, and attitudinal biases. Implications for researchers include the need to address the attitudinal biases of each individual involved in the research and the need to develop valid and acceptable attitudinal assessment…

Examines the benefits of descriptive and predictive models of reading. Argues that the choice of reading model influences the outcome of reading research. (MM)

Integrity-of-treatment violations in special education research can be attributed to examiners as well as subjects. Use of educational technology can limit the examiner's influence, while decreased length of treatment session and topographically dissimilar intervention can reduce subject violations in alternating treatment designs and simultaneous…

A rationale is presented for the systematic evaluation of gifted/talented education programs, citing the consequences of failure to carry out such evaluation. Historically, evaluation of gifted programs was not emphasized, as the evaluation process involved experimental designs, control groups, and parametric statistics which could only be…

The article provides guidelines for readers who must read research articles but lack formal training in research and statistics. While discussing the purpose and content of each section of a research article (such as review of the literature, materials and procedures, and results) the author uses actual articles to illustrate her points.…

The article reviews methodological problems in research using single-case experimental designs, including use of pre- and quasi-experimental single-case designs, presentation and analysis of data, lack of inadequate demonstration of experimental reliability, and improper or ineffective use of generalization. The authors suggest solutions and…

The perfunctory use of factor scores in conjunction with regression analysis is inappropriate for many purposes. It is suggested that factoring methods are most suitable for independent variable sets when some consideration has been given to the nature of the domain, which is implied by the predictors. (Author/BW)

Integrative analysis, or what is coming to be known as meta-analysis, is the integration of the findings of many empirical research studies of a topic. Meta-analysis differs from traditional narrative forms of research reviewing in that it is more quantitative and statistical. Thus, the methods of meta-analysis are merely statistical methods,…

Provides a set of guidelines for evaluating research using structural equation modeling (SEM). Offers insight into how someone familiar with SEM would judge the adequacy of a study using such methods. (Author/RH)

Highlights contributions sociologists can make to major social issues through an emphasis on theoretical ideas and analysis in graduate education. Concludes that recognition of the relationship between theoretical ideas and research procedures is necessary for greater sociological contributions. (Author/DH)

A simplified introduction to path analysis, this article discusses the following: (1) basic rules, assumptions, and procedures; (2) strengths and weaknesses of the technique; (3) special considerations; (4) examples of path analysis in educational research; and (5) guidelines for constructing diagrams. (MCG)

Examines the ethical and legal implications of adhering to treatment protocols in family therapy outcome research. Safeguards are proposed to minimize risks to subjects, and guidelines are suggested to prevent therapist deviation from treatment protocols. (Author)