This volume is comprised of selected papers which were presented at a workshop sponsored by the Institute for Urban Affairs and Research, Howard University, Washington, D.C. Part 1 of the volume presents an overview of the functional significance of social research in the black community. The four papers in this section deal with issues such as…

The change rates of sizes of groups with different educational levels are determined by demographic processes (death rates, ages, migration) and by recruitments from learning institutions and losses caused by moves into higher educational groups. The interrelationship of reproduction of individuals with different training is determined by shifts…

Examines the methodological procedures of expert systems being used in reading research. Identifies four methodological techniques: (1) intact group comparisons, think-aloud protocols, retrospective analysis, and naturalistic inquiry. Notes internal validity threats for each type, and recommends longitudinal descriptive studies on poor readers to…

Reviews research on the relationship between school order and academic achievement. Emphasizes the need to distinguish between order that is the product of coercion, and order that is the product of self-discipline. (FMW)

Soviet and American scientists met at a meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, discussed recent research developments in a variety of disciplines and some controversial issues in science, and showed new willingness to exchange scientific information with the United States and other countries. (MSE)

Criticizes methodology and findings reported in the "Consequences" article, particularly in regard to disparities in characteristics of the samples, validity of the measures, and interpretation of results. (NH)

Computer-based instruction (CBI) studies analyzed by Kulik et al. were examined to explore the validity of competing claims about the computer's contribution to measured achievement gains. Results suggest achievement gains found in CBI studies are overestimated and are due to uncontrolled but robust instructional methods embedded in CBI…

Argues that rank order correlations may not be ubiquitously suitable for assessing the relations between children's behavior or characteristics at one age or in one situation, and those shown later or in another context. (HOD)

Previous research on student ratings of teacher performance is criticized for design flaws in control of the purpose-of-evaluation variable, and a study of the salience of this variable is reported. Recommendations for design are made and faculty misconceptions about student ratings are discussed. (MSE)

In a sample of 64 students (grades 8 and 11, undergraduate, and graduate), this study assesses evaluation and understanding of moral-stage-prototypic statements equated for level of language. Results support the hierarchical nature of moral stages despite the equating of language level. (Author/RH)

Discussed are the assumptions which underpin research studies of the effects of pupil, school, and local education authority characteristics on student achievement in Great Britain. The purpose is to clarify the necessary limitations on knowledge imposed by various research methods and to suggest how these might be improved. (RM)

This report collects the results of all available studies using valid empirical methods to compare segregation in public and private schools, both in general and in the context of school voucher programs. Examining the widespread claims that private schools have high segregation levels and vouchers will lead to greater segregation, this report…

Historical views about individuals and communities shape the ways that researchers interact with people and their communities. The European settlers thought of Native Americans as savages in need of socialization. Accordingly, the first researchers had little concern for the needs of Native people and their communities and sought to impose Western…

A brief review of the papers presented at the Symposium on Research and Evaluation Methodology highlights some of the major issues of research in Indian Country. There is a need to translate research results into terms that are meaningful at the local level, yet the act of doing this reveals tensions between scientific objectivity and advocacy.…

This report examines the feasibility of implementing a student unit record system to replace the student-related components that currently are based on aggregate institution-level data collected as part of the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS). The feasibility study was initiated by the National Center for Education Statistics…