The validity of classroom research literature, centering on content, methodology, and audience, and the appraisal process for teachers are examined. Those engaged in classroom observation should be aware of the limitations of research. The concept of action research provides an alternative to the study of teachers and classrooms that recognizes…

Experiences of the University of Miami's institutional research office, which produces three annual 5-year strategic plans, are reported. Attention is directed to official and unofficial functions of the institutional research office, lessons learned in the process, and suggestions for ways to minimize frustration and maximize usefulness.…

The high achievement of students in the Johnson City School District (JCSD) in New York is attributed to three factors: (1) the mode of instruction from elementary through high school is grounded in a common theoretical base--Bloom's work on Mastery Learning and Glasser's work on Reality Therapy; (2) the teachers participate in staff development…

This report considers how the mathematical knowledge children develop on their own outside of formal school instruction can be used to increase the distribution and level of mathematical knowledge attained by students in grades K-3. Included are preliminary results of an investigation of the counting and calculating abilities brought to…

This manual presents a program of instruction, the Basic Skills Instructional System, which coordinates a number of teaching strategies into a single instructional system. Section 1 describes the organizational phase of the system: (1) teacher expectation; (2) resistance from low achieving students; (3) avoiding confrontations; (4) management of…

This report on the Management of Instructional Information Systems Project describes its activities in developing and disseminating research on educational information systems to school personnel. Section 1 presents the methodology of an ongoing review of the management information systems literature for information relevant to educational…

There is an emerging research base on teacher effectiveness that should be used in redesigning teacher education programs. However, the complexity of teaching and learning does not permit simple solutions to complex problems. Several studies, projects, and programs with the goal of conducting research for teacher education programs are discussed.…

The Program of Research and Evaluation for Public Schools (PREPS) model is unique because all research and evaluation activities are conceived, conducted, and controlled by the local public schools, members of the consortium. It is a delivery system designed to improve school effectiveness. PREPS was developed as a result of the demand for school…

This paper introduces the antecedents and concepts underlying a 2-year investigation of Interactive Research and Development on Schooling (IR&DS). IR&DS is an alternative means of conducting school-based research and development and is seen as a means to: (1) involve school personnel in systematic inquiry; (2) improve the utility of…

Vocational education research and development (R&D) product evaluations are difficult to conduct for several reasons, such as the many types of R&D products, the multiple users of the products with different goals for evaluation, the limited time available, and the high cost. In order to meet these challenges, an internal evaluation team…

The purpose of "What Works in Reading?" was to identify the factors that contribute most strongly to achievement growth in reading. The study, which investigated fourth graders in 25 schools, was run jointly by the Philadelphia School District and the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia, and the respect and understanding that developed…

This paper examines the steps taken in Sweden and Hungary to improve schools. A description is given of the social-political-economic context of each of these countries, noting their similarities and differences. Particular focus is upon the role played by educational research and development efforts in the two countries, and most particularly on…

This document describes the exploration and application of effective schools research resulting from university/public schools cooperation in the Springfield (Massachusetts) Public School System. The Academy for Excellence operated as a partnership between the University of Massachusetts School of Education and the Springfield Public School System…

The concept of owning knowledge is somewhat ethereal and until recently had little relevance to academic institutions. In principle any object that is capable of being controlled is capable of being owned. The most basic control concerns decisions about whether to communicate knowledge. The philosophical foundation which is the basis of the legal…

A description is provided of Rancho Santiago College's institutional research program, which uses a traditional centralized research model, augmented with alternative, decentralized approaches. First, background information is presented on the college and the role of the research office in management, decision-making, and educational support.…