This introduction to a special issue, focused on research into educational intervention for children and adults with learning disabilities, describes activities of a special committee of the Learning Disabilities Association that included soliciting the views of scholars concerning terminology, ethical issues, research design, and barriers to…

Traces continuities between current approaches and earlier traditions in developmental psychology. Contends that current work often ignores commonalities with previous work within psychology. Explores the fate of Piaget's clinical method and its continuities and contrasts with current approaches. Maintains that the conflict generated by the…

Draws on studies of child carers and the impact of the Child Support Act 1991 to examine the methodological, ethical, theoretical, and practical implications of researching children's views. Identifies social, political, and legal trends which form a background to growing interest in children as potential and actual participants in the research…

Summarizes the author's experience using the grounded theory form of qualitative research. Lists the influences which led to adopting the grounded approach, followed by a section on the use of this methodology. Reviews the experience of publishing qualitative research in mainstream journals, and addresses the challenge of teaching students how to…

A recognition-based paradigm was used to investigate possibility that past research failed to sensitively assess infants' perception of the unity of misaligned edges in partial occlusion displays. Results suggested that habituation designs tapping recognition processes may be particularly efficacious in revealing infants' perceptual organization.…

The gender of participants in 1,929 articles (1991-2000) in journals relevant to mental retardation was determined. Gender was not reported in 26%. When gender was reported, 6% of the investigators used females only, 8% used males only, and 60% used both sexes, respectively. The need to specify gender is stressed. (Contains references.) (Author/CR)

Describes an effort to collect information on culturally and linguistically relevant programs in northern Alberta and Saskatchewan. Discusses possible reasons why northern educators were reluctant to share local curriculum initiatives, and suggests four reasons for the apparent absence of critical discourse around curriculum. (Contains 52…

Reviews the historical findings of computer-based instruction research and 47 evaluations of web-based courses in higher education published 1996-2002. Tabulates results in terms of content area, educational level, sample size, use of comparison group, and course characteristics. Assesses experimental designs, effect sizes, and use of features…

Notes that the availability of statistical software packages has led to a sharp increase in use of complex research designs and complex statistical analyses in communication research. Reports a series of Monte Carlo simulations which demonstrate that this complexity may come at a heavier cost than many communication researchers realize. Warns…

Highlights ways for doctoral students to conduct an effective literature review. Discusses the problem formulation stage; conducting an effective literature review and the benefits of a literature review; an example of literature review material; and tips for writing a literature review. (AEF)

Thirteen evaluations of programs to prevent child abuse and neglect are reviewed. The evaluations were characterized by careful attention to methodologic detail but lacked definitions of abuse or neglect. Important topics are omitted, such as the consequences and costs of medical neglect. (Author/JDD)

Modern public education is rooted in capitalist interests of turn-of-the-century industrialists and their institutions. The Americanization of cheap immigrant labor and the formation of a passive industrial workforce were that era's dominant sociological concerns. More recently, residential desegregation efforts are hampered by real estate…

Research is an important activity for second-language educators because it ultimately improves teaching abilities. Unfortunately recent trends in research have resulted in narrow perspectives, increased jargon, and esoteric subject matter. The goal of second-language research should be increasing communication and knowledge throughout the…

Current policies concerning popular dissemination of research results are critiqued, and the formal induction of the press into the scientific process is discussed. Repercussions of a "New England Journal of Medicine" article on the effects of oat bran and low-fiber wheat on health are used to illustrate the issues. (TJH)

Maintains that professionalization theories for pedagogics, which center on the individual and on competence, must be complemented by a historical-functional analysis. Proposes a corresponding interpretation on the function of education in modern societies, and gives an outline of its theoretical foundations. Discusses problems of…