The scientific movement in educational research began in the late 19th century and has expanded exponentially in the 20th century. The origins of the movement are commonly associated with the expansion of measurement and survey methods in clinical psychology and the social sciences. This paper argues that the medical sciences also served as a…

Examines the relationship between anthropology and the Black experience from the first importation of slaves to North America to the present. Discusses the role of Black anthropologists. (MK)

The historical development of current controversy over the use of quantitative or qualitative approaches in evaluation is traced. (Author/PN)

The historic origins of measurement are traced, and the basic requirements for fundamental measurement are outlined. Studying the history of social science measurement shows specific pitfalls the researcher must avoid. Applications of item response theory to social science measurement are discussed. (SLD)

This paper contains informal remarks on action research in social psychology from its post World War II origins to its current status. Kurt Lewin first described action research in the 1946 article, "Action Research and Minority Problems," as a three-step process of program planning, program execution, and follow-up evaluation. Ronald Lippitt and…

The author traces his career from his days as an anthropology student through his work on a wide variety of government and institutional social science research projects. He comments on the politics involved in such research. (SJL)

In this paper, originally published in 1959, the author, at the time executive director of the National Association for Retarded Children, offers his thoughts on applied social science research in mental retardation. The editor's introduction notes that Dybwad sets forth a research agenda which was extremely forward looking in 1959 and remains…

Examines the history of censorship and rock and roll, reassesses the present position taken by the Parents' Music Resource Center, reviews the scholarship regarding the influence of popular song lyrics on youth, and assesses what bearing that scholarship has on the present discussion of censorship and rock and roll. (BJV)

Reviews the history of the establishment of the concept of race. Traces the origins to the work of 17th- and 18th-century writers. Concludes that the notion of race became popular because it was associated with national identity and emerging ideas regarding evolution. (JDH)

Gives a historical account of the formation, accomplishments, and demise of the Committee on Negro Studies. States that committee conflict prevented it from entrenching in American scholarship both the Black scholar and Afro-American culture; Melville Herskovits, the committee's chair, was devoted to African studies and to the…

Noting that recent years have produced an explosion of work in the fields of constitutional and legal history, this article identifies the conclusions and interpretive issues such studies have generated. The impact of social scientific historical methodology and social history are also assessed. (JDH)

Favorably reviews "The Troubled Crusade: American Education 1945-1980," by Diane Ravitch. Holds that educational reforms during this recent historical period were characterized by naivete and a lack of toughmindedness, thoroughness, and self-restraint. (GC)

Defines and explains organizational and conceptual problems encountered by practitioners of academic history today. An argument is presented for more systematic and self-conscious links between academic history and other academic disciplines that use historical data extensively. (Author/DB)

Discusses the role sociology plays in the society through an examination of sociological theory. Reviews the contributions and reactions of Black sociologists to these theories from the nineteenth century through the 1950s. (Author/MK)

Although the scope of this article is ancient history, many of the same issues and questions, such as the impact of leisure upon our contemporary society remain within the focus of the study. History has for its subject human nature, and the record of what has been thought, said, and done. In the study of leisure of ancient societies, thoughts,…