This study was designed to determine both what the Fresno County sixth grade elementary students, social studies teachers, and general elementary teachers knew about American industry and environmental concepts and the differences in knowledge between these groups. Questionnaire responses from a sample of 1,089 elementary students, 43 social…

This monograph examines the literature on undergraduate curriculum improvement from 2 perspectives. One is the National Laboratory for Higher Education's assumption of the "intimate interrelationship" among teaching, instruction, and the curriculum. The other is that of the author who considers the topic within a framework of 4 components: the…

The purpose of curriculum scholarship is to increase understanding of cause and effect relationships pertaining to curriculum characteristics, development, and utilization. The increased understanding on which these various improvements in educational practice depend can be achieved through a combination of several scholarly approaches. Synergy is…

Reviews two reports that, first, describe the current state of affairs in curriculum development focusing on the relationships between federal involvement and more local educational agencies and organizations; and, secondly, attempt to articulate a set of statements that would guide national policy on curriculum research, development, and…

The first of three articles reports on a study of how the occupational therapy curriculum promotes the acquisition of standard professional values. Results indicate that value acquisition is a developmental process. The remaining articles are a commentary on the study and a response to the commentary. (CH)

Accomplishments of the vocational education research community over the past two decades are summarized. Propositions related to the research agenda, the graduate curriculum, and a commitment to scholarship and publication are presented as ways for vocational education research to maintain its positive momentum. (Author/JOW)

Sets an agenda for improving instructional research conducted with classical quantitative experimental or quasi-experimental methodology. Includes guidelines regarding the role of a social perspective, adequate conceptual and operational definition, quality instrumentation, control of threats to internal and external validity, and the use of…

Attempting to define curriculum inquiry, this study examines published reports of curriculum inquiry and classifies the problems studied, the methods used, and the solutions proposed. (MCG)

Describes the rewards and difficulties encountered when an educator/administrator uses ApplePILOT to develop "higher-order" instructional software tailored to meet the needs of an existing history curriculum. Reports research results showing significant learning gains for the seventh graders who participated in the post-development…

Argues that practical curriculum inquiry offers a research perspective that more fully embraces the democratic and personal than does research as usually conceived. (MLF)

Presents a case study of a curriculum project in an Ontario school board to illustrate how researchers can intervene appropriately in the policymaking activities of practicing educators. After discussing and rejecting two traditional models of involvement, illustrates and justifies two practical principles to guide researchers in these situations.…

The impossibility of getting totally objective curriculum evaluation research is examined. (DE)

The history of the early 20th century public school curriculum has established a narrative that investigates the transition from an emphasis on the liberal arts to a more functional, or useful, curriculum. This history details the influence of the developing social sciences and scientific thinking in debates among various interest groups to…

Challenging the education community to reconsider what counts as valued in literacy and literacy education research, this book examines the intersection of literacy, curriculum, and classroom practice in the context of the final years of formal schooling. The book's underlying position is that literacy can no longer be simply defined as comprising…

The assumption of social and academic benefits accrued to students in comprehensive high schools are tested under conditions of non-streaming. (Author/KM)