This study investigated the relative benefits of peer-­controlled and moderated online collaboration during group problem solving. Thirty­-five self­-selected groups of four or five students were randomly assigned to the two conditions, which used the same online collaborative tool to solve twelve problem scenarios in an undergraduate statistics…

Twenty-two junior, senior, and graduate students from an introductory counseling class for nonmajors were introduced to the verbal psychotherapies, and randomly divided into treatment and control groups. The groups were treated identically and received the usual instructional program except for the treatment group receiving 30 minutes of…

Evaluations occur within a political decision-making mileau, where multiple stakeholders are contending for limited funds. Given the subjective basis of empirical information, different conclusions or recommendations about a program may result from different ideological, theoretical, and disciplinary perspectives. The logic behind the…

TO DETERMINE THE INTERRELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN THE SOCIETAL ENVIRONMENT AND EARLY LEARNING EXPERIENCES OF YOUNG PEOPLE WAS THE GOAL OF THIS PROJECT. THE MAJOR OUTCOME OF THIS RESEARCH WAS A WORKABLE FRAME OF REFERENCES AND SET OF TECHNIQUES FOR STUDYING AND TESTING IDEAS ABOUT TALENTED BEHAVIOR IN SCHOOL AND, EVENTUALLY, EXPERIMENTAL SETTINGS. ALL…

THREE GROUPS OF DISADVANTAGED CHILDREN WERE ESTABLISHED IN ORDER TO INVESTIGATE THE EFFECT ON ACHIEVEMENT OF PROVIDING SOME CHILDREN WITH A PRESCHOOL PROGRAM AND SOME CHILDREN WITH NO SUCH PROGRAM. AN EXPERIMENTAL GROUP OF HEAD START CHILDREN WERE MATCHED ACCORDING TO SEX, RACE, GENERAL LEVEL OF INTELLIGENCE, AND PARENT'S OCCUPATIONAL LEVEL WITH A…

IN RESPONSE TO THE OBSERVATION THAT CHILDREN LOSE MUCH OF THEIR IMAGINATIVENESS AND CREATIVENESS AT ABOUT AGE 5 OR DURING THEIR KINDERGARTEN YEAR, A PROGRAM CALLED THE "CREATIVE-AESTHETIC APPROACH TO SCHOOL READINESS" WAS EMPLOYED TO SEE IF IT WOULD PREVENT SUCH A LOSS. THE PROGRAM IS NORMALLY USED WITH PRESCHOOL CHILDREN TO DEVELOP THE…

A number of potential threats to internal validity in true experiments are discussed. Programmatic research efforts proceeding from established correlational findings to experiments employing random assignment are described and used as referents in discussions of validity considerations. The collection of observational data is recommended for use…

Studies were some problems of learning motivation and extrinsic reinforcement in a group of disadvantaged youngsters. Also tested was the hypothesis that learning would be facilitated for those children who received regular individual tutoring in addition to classroom instruction, regardless of conditions of reinforcement. Subjects were 60 Negro…

The effect of a structured program of musical training on the musical abilities of preschool children from disadvantaged environments was investigated. It was hypothesized that, if the musical abilities of such children could be improved sufficiently, they might then be able to enter elementary school on a level commensurate with that of their…

The purpose of this project was to design, execute, and evaluate a film to be used as a public education program in rehabilitation counseling. The film "Will It Be You?" was produced to interest undergraduate students in a career in rehabilitation counseling and to inform the general public of the goals and services of rehabilitation counseling.…

The intent of this experimental program is to test the impact of an assistance system on issues such as work incentive, cost of benefits, administrative costs, and other corollary issues. The structure is to provide assistance that increases as earned income declines, and decreases as earned income increases. Unlike the President's Welfare Reform…

The Distar I Reading, Language and Arithmetic programs were used with two first grade classes. The Distar II programs were used with two second grade classes. One first grade Distar class appeared to make some progress in oral language. Comparison of the first grade Distar classes with a first grade control class that used a Scott-Foresman basal…

Matching, randomization, random sampling, and other methods of controlling extraneous variation are discussed. The purpose was to specify the benefits of randomization in estimating causal effects of treatments. It is concluded that randomization should be employed whenever possible, but the use of carefully controlled nonrandomized data to…

After offering some possible explanations for the existing inadequacies in evaluating organizational training programs, the authors discuss several evaluation issues, particularly internal validity. Methods for overcoming evaluation inadequacies and the implications for better controlled evaluation designs are also covered. (EM)

The Canadian Public Service Commission conducted an experimental course using the communication technology satellite for the experimental group and a conventional classroom for the control group. Both groups of forty managers had the same subject matter and used the same student-directed learning methodology. The article contains observations on…