The procedures used in a successful mailed evaluation questionnaire effort are described, and guidance is given to those who are unfamiliar with the methodology. (Author)

Status, issues, and future of research in instructional design and technology are described. Several steps are recommended to encourage, improve, and expand collaborative research which fall into four general needs: identifying topics and methods; improving quality and quantity; providing greater opportunities; and increasing dissemination. (MBR)

Several conceptions of schooling are outcome-bound: input-output models, school effectiveness models, classroom learning models, and systems theory models. Problems with each of these conceptions are identified, followed by a brief discussion of an outcome-free approach in which schools are viewed as cultural ecologies. (BW)

Mathematics achievement differences among sixth-graders were analyzed in a four-wave design and explained by aptitude and instructional variables in a structural equation framework. The results demonstrate the local nature of achievement models in that neither their measurement nor structural components proved generalizable across two groups of…

An analysis of data showed that British students in local education authorities which have retained selection to a greater or lesser extent did not achieve better examination results than students in those authorities which have gone fully comprehensive. (RM)

The authors suggest that specific methodologies for assessing child satisfaction with treatment can be systematically developed once a more explicit developmental framework has been delineated in the area of children's understanding of medical and psychiatric disorders and their treatments. (Author/BW)

Research with children is occurring within a climate of mounting international interest in listening to and consulting with children in ways that are respectful of them as competent informants of their own experience. This interest has occurred within "new times" of heightened accountability, regulation and surveillance of research. This climate…

Based on the premise that Canada needs to collect, collate, analyze, and disseminate reliable data on early childhood education and care (ECEC) programs that are comparable across provinces/territories and that good data are fundamental for informing policy, research, and service delivery, the National Data Project was funded in 2000-2001 to…

During round 16 of the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth (NLSY), 900 NLSY sample members were randomly assigned to be interviewed about the period since their round 14 interview. Their responses were compared to those of approximately 8,000 NLSY sample members who were assigned to be interviewed about the 1-year period since their round 15…

This paper argues that because estimates of the number of people with developmental dyslexia range from 3% to 20% of the population, it is imperative that educators be knowledgeable about dyslexia, including being up-to-date on the neuroanatomical dyslexia research. It then reviews neuroanatomical research, including findings from seminal research…

Controversies continue regarding the effects of corporal punishment on children. Research has demonstrated an association between levels of corporal punishment and negative outcome behaviors such as aggression and other mental health problems. However, most of these studies have been cross-sectional and correlational in design, thereby precluding…

In two studies, selections of evaluation form items were negatively worded and presented before or after overall student ratings. Ratings of courses and instructors were not significantly affected by wording. Differences in the global assessment of the courses are discussed. (Author/CM)

Suggests that adolescence is a cultural creation rather than a physical, developmental period. The relationship between the cultural definition of adolescence and the psychological concept of adolescence is seen as cyclical and interrelated. This type of relationship results in a unique problem for research into psychological aspects of…

A multistrategy approach (involving use of informants to select items, a multidimensional scaling method, factor analysis, and nomological validation) was applied to refine 24 of Collins's locus of control items for use among Hispanic and non-Hispanic subjects. Only the Difficult-Easy World factor was found to be clearly cross-culturally…

Issues in the measurement and interpretation of student perceptions of medical schools' learning environments in earlier British research are discussed and compared with a more recent Australian study. Two of the problems are methodology in large-scale studies and institutional reform based solely on survey results. (MSE)