Seven challenges in quality assurance for services for people with mental retardation include defining quality, identifying the customer, making choices real, realizing that good intentions are not enough, not applying innovations too hastily or on too large a scale, assuring quality of leadership and staff, and rediscovering common sense. (DB)

Conducted in-depth interviews with 17 parents (9 fathers and 8 mothers) who had abducted their own children. Reported reasons for abduction included unsatisfactory contact with court-related professionals, revenge, and fear for the child's safety. Some abductors, after the abduction had been resolved, had increased contact with their children.…

Comments on article by Brett N. Steenbarger in which the contextualist themes in counseling are described. Contends language should be put into practice so that research can be conducted to examine the concepts conveyed by language. Notes that in this way the mechanisms of change may be better understood and practitioners may benefit. (Author/ABL)

Research on the structure, growth, development, and loss of hair in humans is reviewed. Studies designed to investigate methods of hair restoration using minoxidil and other compounds and treatments are discussed. (CW)

This symposium issue presents nine articles that discuss the U.S. Air Force STINFO (Scientific and Technical Information) Program, which was developed to improve the effectiveness of collecting and disseminating scientific and technical information concerning Department of Defense, Army, Navy, and Air Force research and engineering efforts. (LRW)

Describes process of building cooperative and collaborative relationship between Office of Residence Life and counselor education program through working together on research project. Describes this project (the development and implementation of peer consultation experience for resident assistants) and discusses additional outcomes from this…

Describes six languages that scientifically minded and practice-competent social workers need to be fluent in lay language of client, abstract language of theorist, empirical and often quantitative language of researcher, categorical language of information scientist, technical terminology or jargon used by helping professionals, and preferential…

This study compared attitudes of scientists associated with (n=79) or not associated with (n=70) a mental retardation research center, concerning preferred measures of research productivity at such centers. Data showed consistency in responses of groups. A ranking of 25 measures was developed, with publication in refereed journals ranked highest.…

Describes a new way of classifying uses of educational technologies based on a four-part division: inquiry, communication, construction, and expression. This taxonomy is compared to previous taxonomies of educational technologies. The utility of the taxonomy is tested by using it to classify "advanced applications of technologies"…

Leadership in industry-university research centers often involves helping constituencies with conflicting priorities deal with challenges, necessitating a participatory leadership style. Other challenges include exercising intrapreneurship, creating a compelling technical vision, and spanning organizational boundaries. (SK)

This article assessed productivity of authors and research institutions in the area of developmental disabilities through review of all reports published between 1979 and 1999 in six applied developmental disabilities journals. Tables list the top (most productive) 21 individual authors and the top 50 institutions. (Contains three references.) (DB)

Proposes the learning community as an avenue for moving beyond the research/practice gap in higher education. Suggests that a learning community made up of all stakeholders is enriched by diverse methods, frameworks, perspectives, and voices. Such a community can be built by encouraging dialogue between practitioners and scholars and transforming…

Describes the Center for Technology Innovation in Education that was developed at the University of Missouri-Columbia to undertake research and development of innovative learning technology and its implementation. Discusses projects currently being carried out, many of which are collaborations, and considers the future as it relates to education…

Investigates the relationship between science and technology in industrial research laboratories, comparing the lab as "ivory tower" with the customer-oriented science approach. Describes similar patterns in science and technology curricula. Concludes that mutual commitment and shared project work would benefit integration of science and…

This article reviews evidence for seven central questions about the role of naming-speed deficits in developmental reading disabilities. Cross-sectional, longitudinal, and cross-linguistic research on naming-speed processes, timing processes, and reading is presented. An evolving model of visual naming illustrates areas of difference and areas of…