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)

Educators have expressed growing dissatisfaction with common practice in educational research. Discussed is whether or not research studies should be rationalized, empirical-analytic, interpretive, or subjective. In order to be useful, all research need not be rationalized and need not attempt to verify scientific theory. (CS)

Research on teacher evaluation and teacher effectiveness indicates that there are serious problems with the reliability of presage, process, and product findings. Quality in teaching can best be assessed by measuring process in the classroom and by using observation instruments which record the occurrence of specific, well-defined behaviors. (PP)

Meta-analysis of Title I program evaluations shows the norm-referenced model overestimates positive effectiveness; while the regression-discontinuity design underestimates it. Potential biases include residual regression artifacts, attrition and time-of-testing problems in the norm-referenced design, and assignment, measurement, and data…

Explores the issues of patient homogeneity, external validity, internal validity, choosing and implementing specific treatment modalities, therapist experience and attitudes, therapist age, reliability and validity of measures, and problems obtaining follow-up information when studying treatment of depressed elderly patients. (Author)

Reviews problems with early survey research methods. Recent studies are examined in terms of characteristics of the stimuli and contexts, and characteristics of the perceivers employed in them. Methodological and conceptual issues in these three categories are used to organize the body of research that exists. (Author)

Input-output research has made valuable contributions to our understanding of schools; however it does not provide reliable evidence concerning how school resources should be allocated. Two input-output studies described indicate that the intuitions of experienced school officials should be heeded by researchers when designing input-output…

Presents marketing as a form of comprehensive planning and considers its value. Stresses the difficulty of obtaining data about the external environment and the probability that external group demands will conflict among themselves and with legislative preferences. Questions the ability of colleges to expand in the face of fiscal restraints. (DD)