Training produced significant changes in the teaching behavior, self-ratings of teaching ability, and student ratings of instruction of graduate teaching assistants. Response-shift bias was noted in the self-reports and controlled through the collection of retrospective pretests. (Author/CP)

Argues that the profession and practice of music education research is becoming increasingly isolated and disengaged. Posits a parallel between this development and similar occurrences in the rest of society particularly the emphasis on consumption and commercialization. Maintains that this trend marks a decline in social capital. (MJP)

Reviews the literature on implications of caregiver-parent relationships for children in daycare and at home. Finds that choices in day care are not randomly distributed across families; family and daycare characteristics tend to covary. Longitudinal studies, studies in noncenter settings, and studies of the child's influence on parent caregiver…

Discusses the theory and practice of rural socioeconomic surveys in developing nations. Highlights the close links between choice of research topic, field area and research methods, and the ethics of field research. Offers a personal commentary on some practical problems concerning field research. (MJP)

College administrators are complaining that "Yahoo! Internet Life" magazine used a flawed surveying process and inaccurate data to select the institutions it named in a recent ranking of "American's 100 Most Wired Colleges." Even some institutions faring well in the ranking have concerns about the survey, citing problems with…

Reviews materials developed by the now-defunct Russian President's Coordinating Committee for Handicapped Affairs. Reveals a system barely meeting the needs of its handicapped citizens and hampered by inadequate accounting and reporting. Provides a broad range of information on the handicapped in Russia based on approximate data. (MJP)

Considers the complete ethnographic project as a strategy for teaching qualitative methods. Describes an undergraduate class where students chose an ethnographic setting, gathered and analyzed data, and wrote a final report. Settings included Laundromats, bingo halls, auctions, karaoke clubs, and bowling leagues. (MJP)

Describes a study that was designed to examine the emotional consequences of providing information about the likelihood of a frightening media event to children in kindergarten through third grade. Facial and physiological indicators of fear were measured, and implications for understanding media-induced fear and for selecting effective coping…

Seven essays on efforts of evaluate prevention programs aimed at the acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) are presented. Topics include public health psychology, mathematical models of epidemiology, estimates of incubation periods, ethnographic evaluations of AIDS prevention programs, an AIDS education model, theory-based evaluation, and…

Reports two studies analyzing the effects of family background on students' achievement in Thailand and Malawi, using measures of social class valid for developing countries. Found that family background accounted for achievement in both countries, suggesting that previous research may have underestimated these influences. (LS/Author)

Rossell's critique of the Walsh and Carballo (1986) study of five bilingual education programs in Massachusetts is marred by a number of problems, here identified. (BJV)

Defends the Walsh and Carballo (1986) study of five bilingual education programs in Massachusetts against Rossell's critique of the study. (BJV)

Discusses a case study of an English teacher, the methods of teaching, and the difficulties encountered by the researcher in the study. Emphasizes the structure that an underlying pedagogical theory supplies for research, enabling the researcher to see, categorize, and analyze the content that teachers present to students. Discusses models of…

Presents an interview between a researcher and a teacher who was the subject of two studies. Discusses the teacher's impressions of each study, the researchers, and what was learned from each experience. Describes problems with research methods and interpersonal factors. Concludes that participating in research is a valuable experience for…

Some unresolved methodological and philosophical issues in the assessment of performance trends are discussed as they relate to the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP). How to measure performance change while remaining responsive to advances in curriculum and the technology of assessment is a central dilemma. (SLD)