Points out that early childhood development research is fraught with questions about researchers' ability to understand the mind of the child and the feasibility of true collaboration with children in the research process. Delineates common complications in the research process and summarizes responses to a survey of early childhood researchers…

Surveys and critiques what has been written about style checkers and text-editing capabilities of the computer to assist in revising technical writing. Finds the literature inconclusive largely because it is anecdotal and methodologically flawed. Suggests a new research agenda and focus. (KEH)

Analyzes chapters on epistemology and methodology in the "Handbook of Research on Social Studies Teaching and Learning." Laments the imprecise definition concerning the epistemological nature of the social studies. Concludes the handbook does not clarify this definition and that social studies research reflects this missing broader…

Ethnographic techniques were applied to a post hoc examination of children's incidental behaviors during a metalinguistic intervention procedure--behaviors ignored in the original experimental design. The reflective and qualitative nature of ethnography was used to account for the 12 phonologically impaired 4-year-olds' varied perceptions of…

Microanalysis of data from videotaped responses of 96 preschoolers presented with an opportunity to help a peer in a familiar preschool setting provided a picture of the behavioral sequence of young children's helping responses and the contextual factors which contributed to the prediction of helping behavior. (BB)

This article contends that Nigrescence or Black racial identity theory often interacts with counseling research designs such that readers may underestimate the worth of, or misunderstand, such research. Methodological dilemmas resulting from interactions among theoretical formulations, environmental influences, and research participants' racial…

Reviews, analyzes, and critically assesses a sample of articles reporting research findings related to the instructional effectiveness of computer-assisted instruction (CAI). Problems in CAI research are described, including validity of the experimental research design, and current trends in CAI research are discussed. (31 references) (LRW)

Discusses the past inadequacies and omissions of Asian American studies. Discusses the need to further the understanding of the Asian experience in the United States through critical scholarship, fresh perspectives, and new approaches to the study of Asian diaspora, such as exploring the international dimension. (JS)

In describing several pitfalls associated with research on school and teacher effectiveness, the following aspects of effectiveness research are considered: correlation-causation relationship, controlling for background factors, statistical and practical significance, instrumentation problems, regression effects, measurement of change, nonlinear…

Reflects on some of the problems encountered in the authors' experimental approach to a study of reading comprehension. Discusses the limitations of experimental research, and presents an alternative to experimental or quantitative research, focusing on the relationship between teachers and learners as they interact in classrooms. (MM)

Examines common sources of error for scholars using mission registers to study California Indian history. Draws examples from mission register studies of the Chumash tribe to illustrate problems resulting from missing entries, name changes, linguistic errors, and cross-cultural confusion about naming taboos and kin relationships. Contains 34…

Discusses problems in research methodology inherent in studying teachers' career paths. Demonstrates the use of proportional hazards modeling to identify overlooked factors in research on teachers' career persistence other problems in educational research. (FMW)

Discusses problems of classifying racial and ethnic groups when collecting statistical data. Argues that surveys must acknowledge the great diversity of the American population and give respondents the freedom to choose the group or groups to which they belong. (FMW)

Research in the area of the instructional leadership of the school administrator is reviewed. Weaknesses in studies of instructional leadership are grouped as methodological, measurement, and conceptual problems. These problems define an agenda for improving research in the area of instructional leadership. (SLD)

Follows the development of the conceptual boundaries used in defining a case study through the stages of a research project about the development of teacher knowledge. Compares the process with the Hermeneutical Circle. (FMW)