Unanticipated obstacles and difficulties, endemic to industrial research in complex sociocultural settings, indicate that reliable conclusions concerning industrial life are problematic. Discussion of sampling biases reveals that error of unknown proportions is introduced into the research process: first, when decisions about whom to study are…

The University of Mid-America brings low-cost education to people in their homes through reliance on self-instruction packages and the mass media. (Author/IRT)

Analyzes the concept of self-directed learning, focusing on the facilitation of self-directed learning in the noninstitutional setting. Clarifies self-directed learning and follows with an outline and discussion of the ability of distance education to facilitate such learning. (CH)

Suggests that andragogical practice should acknowledge and accept of its learners both self-directedness and its obverse, dependency; both can be viewed as phenomenological expressions of a specific, context-bound, and limited situation. Compares andragogy and pedagogy. (JOW)

The author analyzes the meaning of self-direction, defends and refutes it as a distinguishing feature of adulthood as compared to childhood and youth, and assesses its significance for lifelong education and learning. (JOW)

A multiple baseline design was used to demonstrate the effectiveness of a self-instruction training sequence across three groups of three preschool handicapped students to improve their ability to count a requested number of objects from one to ten. Eight of nine students showed improved accuracy in counting objects and generalized these gains to…

Two studies involving a total of six 5 and 6-year olds demonstrated that it is possible to increase specified components of children's creative behaviors using a verbal self-instructional procedure. A social validation procedure indicated that drawings high in representational diversity were ranked as significantly more creative than baseline…

A self-instructional unit on advanced astronomy concepts resulted in moderate to high growth in specific target skills for gifted students in grades five through eight. Most of the students expressed heightened interest in astronomy, and one-half elected to pursue advanced investigations in astronomical research. (CL)

Article examines styles of self-study in relation to the type of subject matter to be covered. Concludes that the Keller plan is the natural method to use when many links between topics appear on the prerequisity knowledge diagram appropriate to the subject area--as often happens in science. (Author)

Techniques presented are: analysis of discrepant events, presentation of open-ended problems, and problem formulation activities. (Authors)