Because educational researchers are becoming interested in the uses of ethnographic field methods, the author examines some of the theoretical disputes and methodological problems being experienced in contemporary anthropology, such as hypothesis testing, observer bias, and reliability. (Part of a theme issue on anthropology of education.) (SJL)

Reveals the lack of research on children's writing and suitable writing instruction in the last 25 years. Points out the inadequacies in the research that is being done and the need for better research methods that take writing context and environment into account. (HTH)

Research in written composition must not only face up to the fact that composition tests must meet the same requirements for validity and reliability that other tests must meet, but it also faces the unique difficulty of figuring out a way to give a valid and reliable pretest. (DD)

Discusses problems involved in testing Piaget's hypothesis of topological primacy in representational space by copying geometric figures. (Author/SS)

A Monte Carlo technique was used to investigate the effect of the differences in covariate means among treatment groups on the significance level and the power of the F-test of the analysis of covariance. (Author/GDC)

Identifies and describes stresses that the ethnographer experiences in the research setting. Suggests coping strategies for dealing with phenomena such as (1) data overload, (2) participant observation, (3) participation/intervention, (4) the researcher's need for acceptance, identity and reciprocity, (5) data presentation and distribution, and…

Finds that when subjects have a week to reflect on the research hypothesis, they will attempt to prove the hypothesis. Does not find, however, that increased information yields negative research results. (RL)

A method is proposed for overcoming the problem of multicollinearity in multiple regression equations where multiplicative independent terms are entered. The method is not a ridge regression solution. (JKS)

The report by A. Stephens and J. McLaughlin (1974) on retarded-nonretarded group differences in performance on Piagetian reasoning tasks was critically examined. (Author)

Reviews various current experimental attempts to induce a form of human language in chimpanzees and concludes that research results indicate that only Homo Sapiens are capable of mastering human forms of communication. (MH)

The effect of research article length, format, and technical quality upon practicing counselors' receptivity to research material was examined. It was found that none of the predictor variables significantly affected scores of counselor receptivity in any consistent direction or between articles of different content. (Author)

Discussion of conceptual and methodological aspects of reading intervention research focuses on nine specific design limitations of previous intervention research; ways to measure and analyze change as a function of development, treatment intervention and ecological influences; assumptions of individual growth models; and advantages, conditions,…

Solving the school dropout problem requires accurate data about the actual rates and counts for all student groups residing in the community. This article discusses ways to improve demographic accounting accuracy. Reporting only dropout rates diverts attention from dropout counts and increases the likelihood of making incorrect demographic…

Reviews elements of research that need to be monitored by funding agencies and/or organizations carrying out research, and examines the problems and possibilities of research into the impact of research. Presents a case study of a project that focused on three strands of research undertaken at the University of Sheffield (United Kingdom). (Author)

The identification and acceptance of discipline-specific research problems and subsequent related theory is not a random process dependent only on the interests of individual theorists. Discusses the nature of agenda building--background and definitions and agenda building processes; and application of principles in instructional…