Argues that the philosophical context noted in Haynes's "How Skewed Is 'The Bell Curve,'" is incomplete; that the Constitution does not treat blacks the same as whites; and that not enough cultural and social context was addressed. The authors characterize the "The Bell Curve" as a wrecking ball for dismantling social programs…

Agrees with Haynes' assessment of "The Bell Curve" as scientifically flawed research with adverse political implications and as pseudoscientifically representing racism. The author criticizes Haynes for not fully illuminating the dangerous implications (now occurring) for the well-being of blacks today and into the next century. (GR)

The National Joint Committee for Learning Disabilities' definition of learning disabilities is presented, followed by a discussion of parameters to be considered in operationalizing the definition. Major definitional issues are then explored, including using testable and meaningful constructs, linking definitions to neuropsychological evidence,…

Reports on the work of the Center for the Study of Community Colleges in helping two-year colleges to define and establish their rates of transfer. Presents the outcomes of 1990 forums where study participants discussed problems and issues in data collection. (DMM)

Analyzes the political, educational, and technical factors that strongly influenced the Ramirez study of bilingual programs. Enumerates strengths and weaknesses of the study's research methodology, along with implications for decision making in language-minority education. Summarizes defensible conclusions of the study that have not yet been…

Discusses three themes important for the future progress of developmental psychology: (1) a focus on not only individuals, but also individuals in networks of relationships; (2) description as the first, but not the only, stage in the analysis of developmental processes; and (3) a multidisciplinary approach. (BC)

Examines seven articles that employed path analysis to test causal models of the acquisition of literacy or the reading-writing relationship. Reveals that, although such analysis holds promise for a better understanding of the components of literacy, several potential difficulties remain for those attempting to synthesize this body of literature.…

The controversy between Margaret Mead and Derek Freeman about Mead's work (1928) on coming of age in Samoa in the 1920s is analyzed. Freeman's claim to have refuted Mead's findings can be easily refuted itself. Mead's study, arguing that adolescent turmoil is not universal, stands the test of time. (SLD)

Serious researchers of Indian communities should focus on actual community needs, be sensitive to community wishes and attitudes, and establish more precise identity with respect to communities with goals of distinguishing serious research from popular writing, minimizing useless research, and providing more leverage over funding sources and their…

In "Politics, Markets, and American Schools," Chubb and Moe (1990) advocated free market principles that would give individual families the freedom to choose among competing schools. This review claims that Chubb and Moe's empirical case is fatally flawed and that the market approach to choice they embrace threatens the ideal of a…

Multiple regression analysis is discussed as useful for studying the effect of a variable while controlling for the effects of others and for estimating the total effect of all predictor variables together. It is suggested that in English-as-a-Second-Language proficiency measurement, regression coefficients should not be the basis for judging…

Critically reviews a study commissioned by the Scottish Education Department (SED) on the transition to adulthood of young people with special educational needs. Although the research serves the political purposes of the SED, it contains sampling problems and unrepresentative case studies and fails to address cost effectiveness. (KS)

Examines quantitative magazine research studies published in various journals during the period 1983-1993. Questions the heavy reliance on content analysis techniques to study the role of magazines in American society. Calls for a redirection in magazine research, combining media content studies with media effects studies. (SR)

Examined differences in observers' influence on parents during naturalistic home observations of families. Parents' oldest child was 6-7 years old. Results suggested that observers influenced fathers more than mothers. Apparent differences in influence were related to the child's sex. (LB)

A contemporary ethnographic account of the social organization of the Okanagan of British Columbia, written by Peter Carstens, differs strikingly from three accounts published 1900-39 by Teit, Walters, and Ray. Ethnography is affected by personal bias and ideology, particularly when attempting to understand otherness. (Author/SV)