Political knowledge questions often are used in social sciences web surveys to study political literacy, identify knowledge gaps and misinformation, examine political polarization, and predict political behavior. However, knowledge questions are subject to bias when respondents look up the correct answers online. Lookup behavior can confound…

This case study investigates the practical and methodological challenges associated with conducting interviews with high-ranking public figures ("elites") in politically fragile environments, with a particular focus on education and gender issues in Turkey. The original research utilised a qualitative methodology, emphasising an…

The nature of controversial programs is discussed, including problems that such programs pose for evaluators and suggested solutions for the problems. Controversial programs are likely to generate news-media attention, internal conflicts (i.e., involving the program and evaluation staffs) and external conflicts (i.e., involving various advocacy…

This article, detailing the implications of "ethics drift" for critical work in the academy, reports on an ethics challenge to a non-research-based scholarly text. It analyzes how General Research Ethics Boards (GREBs) can threaten academic freedom when they lack a clear definition of "human subject" research, fail to…

Reports on a study of the extent of advocacy in research articles appearing in the journal "Social Problems" from 1953 to 1992. Finds that political advocacy has increased sharply over the time period and discusses implications of the findings. (CFR)

Techniques of sociological research--defined as the assembly, organization and interpretation of facts that help explain human activity--are described in this guide to community research strategies. In Part I of the booklet some basic aspects of research are examined, illustrating procedures of stating and examining a research problem. The scope…

Emphasising the level of the observation of university configurations and the example of academic entrepreneurship, the author analyses the drivers of economic returns of public research in France. Based on the study of national public policy in this field since 1999 and a general survey of the paths of researchers-entrepreneurs, the article…

Research in sex education is essential so that the many questions of concern to parents and educators might be rationally answered, but in an atmosphere of political controversy, both research and education are likely to suffer. (Author)

The papers in this publication were presented at a 3-day staff conference of the Center for the Advanced Study of Educational Administration (CASEA). The objectives of the conference were to (1) assess the actual and potential contributions of various academic disciplines to the program area of the Center, (2) evaluate the field of administration…

This review of two journal articles focuses on the tendency of many anthropologists to emphasize ideological concerns and activist orientations over respect for the truth. (Author/BE)

Examines complexities involved in assessing the utility of political gaming in the analysis of foreign affairs, and reports an assessment of a political game conducted at the CIA to demonstrate assessment difficulties due to inherent uncertainties in both foreign affairs analysis and the gaming process. (CMV)

The effectiveness of sex research models which measure adolescents' feelings of political alienation is investigated and discussed and a new model is formulated. The six models include life dissatisfaction, personal depreciation, critical perceptions of political reality, irrational beliefs, perceptions of political threat, and cognitive…

Reviews the scholarly work that uses content analysis to study political substance in magazines. Uses a modified version of Laswell's communication model to classify the current literature. Discusses problematic issues and offers possible solutions. (SR)

Research reports were of two forms--subjective reports by observers of the various activities, and objective measures of changes in knowledge and/or attitude. The difficulties encountered in evaluation are discussed but the results of the evaluation are not included. Samples of the four questionnaires are presented. (AG)

The experiences of a researcher from the United States in his field study of squatter-camp schools are presented. His reactions to conditions of extreme poverty in the community are juxtaposed against a divergent view from a project worker, a native of South Africa with extensive experience with teachers in squatter-camp schools. (MMU)