Uses case studies on promoting interaction skills for integrating young children with special needs in nursery schools to examine the link between research methodology and promotion of educational quality. Asserts that the research process can influence interaction strategies and promote effective, reflective practice. Notes that teams need…

Using a participatory-collaborative research design, nine Canadian-Native college students were interviewed to evaluate a two-week community-based course that uses Indigenous and Western knowledge systems to study environmental issues and impacts from Indigenous perspectives. Discusses issues in hands-on learning in First Nations communities,…

A qualitative, longitudinal study of community colleges, including four Canadian institutions, sought to (1) identify and analyze actual institutional behaviors as they adjust to the demands of globalization, and (2) examine the evolving development of the community college as a social institution by focusing on the actions and conditions leading…

This study used ethnographic methodology to evaluate the impact of mediation on transition outcomes of six persons with mild mental retardation. Strategies used by focal persons, their parents, and agencies/schools are discussed in relation to (1) empowerment and self-determination, (2) social dimensions of transition planning and "balanced…

Describes the use of portfolios in teacher education programs and the development and evolution of a portfolio assignment in a course on multicultural issues in special education. Qualitative data that describe students' (n=156) learning is presented, and implications for future practice and research is provided. (Author/CR)

Interviews and observations of a first-grade mathematics class to determine the influence of Proposition 227 on limited-English-speaking students found that many initial fears about Proposition 227 were unfounded; student ability to cope was underestimated; teacher knowledge of Spanish and Latino culture was critical; and students' limited English…

Describes a classroom-based research project that focused on issues of cultural pluralism. Students interviewed foreign students living with U.S. host families as well as the families. They also examined student handbooks and orientation materials. Discusses the implementation and outcome of the project. (MJP)

A study examined general education student assessment efforts at 130 colleges and universities. Based on self-study reports and on-site evaluation reports of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools during the accreditation process, the study looked at implementation, explicit objectives, and use of quantitative and qualitative…

A qualitative study of attitudes of African American high school students on the economic aspects of the decision to attend or not attend college concluded that these students factored in both the expected costs and any future earnings, recognizing both the job market limitations faced by African Americans and their personal desires for wealth.…

Mental health consumer-run organizations are alternatives to mainstream mental health services, and they have the dual focus of supporting members and creating systems change. The existing literature suggests that these organizations have beneficial impacts on social support, community integration, personal empowerment, subjective quality of life,…

This article employs the concept of intersubjectivity to analyze developments in and discrepancies between students' understandings of criteria for effective writing and the criteria of their teacher. It reports on a study that employed qualitative methods of interview and classroom observation in conjunction with analysis of students' writing and…

This paper examines the results from a qualitative study conducted with teacher education candidates enrolled in the foreign/world language licensure programs in two different universities located in the United States. The purpose of the paper is to help us better understand how critical pedagogy and multicultural education can help meet the…

This article discusses concerns about the definition of scientifically based research in federal education legislation and its impact on the use of qualitative inquiry as a research method. It describes key contributions of qualitative research that could be jeopardized if the current definition remains unchanged or narrowly interpreted. (Contains…

This paper reports findings from a qualitative investigation into the relationship between physical activity and mental health from the experiences of participants on exercise referral schemes. A grounded theory methodology was adopted which used focus groups and semi-structured interviews with participants from three exercise referral schemes in…

This paper describes the development of a new university physics course designed to integrate physics, education, research, and community partnerships. The coordinated system of activities links the new course to local community efforts in pre-college education, university education, university outreach, and research on teaching and learning. As…