Argues for a new approach to empirical work which focuses on classroom thoughtfulness. Proposes a conception of higher-order thinking that synthesizes theoretical literature with the views of practitioners. Offers a conceptual basis for empirical study of classrooms, teachers, students, and institutional leaders. (GG)

Six quantitative reviews of the research on student ratings of instructional effectiveness are examined. The disparate conclusions of the reviews are explained by comparing the syntheses at each of five steps in a meta-analysis: specifying inclusion criteria; locating studies; coding study features; calculating study outcomes; and data analysis.…

The focus of school finance expertise and inquiry has shifted away from litigation and equity concerns to microeconomic and productivity research, and the utilization and outcome of educational inputs. Efficiency, productivity, and incentives are topics of current school finance research. Issues of the appropriateness of the research agenda and…

Calls for further research evaluating corporate adventure training (CAT) programs. Reviews activities and benefits associated with CAT, summarizes studies conducted on the efficacy of CAT programs, describes appropriate research designs for investigating how and why CAT programs work, and addresses barriers to producing meaningful research. (LP)

Presents results from the first part of a two-part study of the characteristics of research conducted in the area of developmental education. Identifies the areas investigated, types of research being conducted, and the effectiveness of the research. Indicates that serious flaws were found in 63% of the studies reviewed. Discusses four factors…

Suggests that social scientists need to move out of the laboratory and study human development in the full complexity of real-world problems, which includes the perspectives of practitioners. Suggests that the social science field needs to accept a problem-focused orientation rather than a discipline-focused one for studying human development to…

Describes specific problems related to the issues of confidentiality and subjectivity in a qualitative research project concerning social dynamics in a music education classroom. Argues that the nature of the observer/participant relationship creates complex problems involving confidentiality and subjectivity. (MJP)

Describes two research projects linking family processes with elementary school children's competence in school to provide examples of methodological issues related to investigations that cross systems of family and school. Issues discussed include gaining cooperation from school, recruitment and consent procedures, data collection and measurement…

Describes a study which linked the misconduct of proposing, performing, and reporting academic research to librarians' perceptions of service quality; explores implications of fraud for library collections and information services; and discusses factors meriting further research. Tables present examples of sources in which those implicated in…

Describes a class demonstration of observer bias in which students were led to believe what the research data would indicate. Reports that students reported trends consistent with the expectancy. Asserts that the demonstration had a strong and memorable effect on students and has value for demonstrating observer bias. (CFR)

Provides an annotated bibliography of 14 recent ERIC documents on focus group applications in higher education. Includes documents describing colleges that have used focus groups to assess employer and public attitudes toward the college, assess institutional effectiveness, develop programs and curricula, and learn about student experiences. Lists…

A national study was conducted in New Zealand in 1988-91 to identify older people with intellectual disability. A national prevalence rate of 1.43 per 1,000 was established. The paper discusses delays in data collection, issues of identification, and the feasibility of case-finding. Challenges to procedures and research design are outlined, and…

These thoughts, by the author of a paper (EC 611 426) on having students self-record their success in meeting teachers' expectancies, examine the role of theory in guiding research and practice and the replicability of research on self-management behaviors in various special-needs populations. (DB)

Although the same general research principles that guide other investigations should apply to research with the Rorschach Inkblot Method, the nature of the Rorschach as a relatively unstructured measure of personality functioning calls for special attention to selection of research participants, choice of variables, and data collection and…

This study of 105 12-month olds replicated 4 similar studies that showed that infants in day care are at risk for insecure attachment. Failure to reproduce significant results suggests that the research literature on infant day care and attachment may be biased by the unavailability of "file drawer" studies--unpublished data showing no…