In the first of four symposium papers, Clark reviews the research on learning from media and uses his argument that media comparison studies show no differences in learning attributable to any one medium over another to dispute recent research on computer-assisted instruction. He also takes the position that the media attribute argument (i.e.,…

This exploration of the future of research in special education identifies components of "good research" and reasons for the existence of poor quality research. It cites the difficulty in identifying links between research findings and innovations in practice. Factors that will influence the future of research in special education are noted, such…

In an effort to review the effectiveness and the impact of the Office of Institutional Research (OIR) at El Paso Community College (EPCC) and to identify and report any significant problems with the quality of service being provided to the college president and other key policy and decision makers, an evaluation plan and survey test instrument…

A two-part survey of Ohio employers of JTP (Job Training Partnership) Ohio Title IIA participants asked 497 employers about: (1) their attitudes and opinions toward JTP Ohio and their participation in JTP programs (272 responses) and (2) employment and earning data for Title IIA participants who worked in the firm after ending their JTP training…

The project documented in this report identified barriers researchers encounter in gaining access to--i.e., identifying, acquiring, handling, and using--published information and measured the seriousness of the more significant barriers. Fifty-one barriers were identified, and a method of measuring their seriousness was developed. Thirty of the…

The Criminal Justice Initiative (CJI) was conducted in Washington, D.C. from fiscal year 1984 through fiscal year 1986 to relieve overcrowded prison conditions by reducing the recidivism rate. Objectives of the project included hiring additional prison staff to provide security and increase prisoner processing, expanding the education program, and…

The problems of integrating the multiple dimensions of a language contact situation in linguistic research have been of concern in recent years. The use of macro- (collective or group) and micro- (individual) levels of linguistic analysis illustrates this concern. Quebec's International Center for Research on Bilingualism has developed an…

A detailed review of research was conducted on the relationship of social support of older adults to their general health and well being, and the findings were applied to educational outcomes and performance. The following dimensions of social support were examined: (1) an ecological framework or perspective of social support, (2) definitions and…

A project was undertaken at Miami-Dade Community College (MDCC) in Florida to develop new student follow-up methodologies and to field test these methodologies in order to increase the accuracy of placement and follow-up data supplied to the state; to reduce the number and percent of former MDCC students falling into the "unknown" placement status…

This paper discusses the theoretical scope and practical applicability of generalizability (G) theory through the principle of symmetry. Major ideas are summarized and factors hindering applications of G theory in research conducted in French-speaking Europe are presented. The principle of symmetry affirms that any factor of a design can be…

The goals of this selective review are to analyze and organize the literature on the process of interracial education, and to examine the relationship between the researcher's conceptual framework and the research methodology employed. The topics treated within the literature include the following: (1) law and politics; (2) community concerns; (3)…

The purpose of this paper is two-fold: first, to summarize the deficiencies of data available on summer schools; and second, to provide a context for analyzing and interpreting the results from the several evaluations that do exist. The paper also reviews the studies that have been completed on summer schools and takes a closer look at the…

A major concern in the field of special education is the effective delivery of services and their administrative organization. A conceptual definition for "organization" as it applies to special education is developed. Specific areas in special education organization that warrant research are identified and described. Examples include: (1) the…

After a brief introduction indicating the value of the first Follow Through evaluation, this document offers ideas about how a new wave of Follow Through approaches should be evaluated. The discussion is based on the premise that the form of an evaluation must be derived from the questions for which answers are sought, the audience(s) to whom the…

Articles in this issue of the bulletin of the Hispanic Research Center focus on the problems of collecting demographic and social data in the South Bronx. The introductory article summarizes the contents of this issue. The second (by Lloyd H. Rogler, Osvaldo Barreras, and Rosemary Santana Cooney) is based on the experiences of field workers…