Discusses a set of neuropsychodiagnostic rules proposed by Selz and Reitan. That study was found to be seriously limited on theoretical grounds and in terms of research methodology. Sampling problems were indicated, and issues of neurological integrity and learning disabilities were poorly conceptualized. (Author)

Comments on the rationale and methodology of the textual cue experiments of L. T. Frase and B. J. Schwartz (see EJ 203 980) and describes two studies that attempted to replicate and extend their findings using a different methodology. (Author/GT)

Shows why newspapers should use live telephone interviewers instead of automatic telephone interviewing devices to collect marketing/readership data. (RL)

Five major studies of sexism in children's reading materials were critically reviewed according to basic research criteria. Findings indicated that these studies were not based on well-structured designs; that categories were not explicated or consistent; and that foundations to support valid conclusions were lacking. (Author/GDC)

Although it is possible to statistically estimate the degree to which genetic variation explains observed variation in human behavior, estimates of nongenetic behavior do not set an upper limit on the explanatory power of environmental variation. The two categories are not mutually exclusive: genetic variation often causes environmental variation.…

Presents a case study of anthropological field work in Jamaica to illustrate difficulties in carrying out this type of research. Argues that the anthropologist's failure to analyze and communicate field difficulties is a major barrier to establishing anthropology as an objective science. (MK)

The author outlines the advantages of illuminative, or descriptive, research in education and points out the need in this field for verification and cumulation, proposing a national depository for descriptive case records. (SJL)

There are difficulties in expressing effect sizes on a common metric when some studies use transformed scales to express group differences, or use factorial designs or covariance adjustments to obtain a reduced error term. A common metric on which effect sizes may be standardized is described. (Author/RL)

Among the areas identified for further research in basic business and economic education are course content, effective teaching, strategy/media/content mix, student achievement, and materials and methods. (LRA)

Suggests guidelines for conducting research concerned with testing English instructional strategies and materials. (RL)

Investigated family behavior when a child is epileptic by comparing families with an epileptic child to control families without one. (Author/DB)

Notes how current writing research models remain of limited usefulness to the study of writing development because they do not explain important conditions such as coherence, nor do they define the systematic relationships in writing contexts. (RL)

In this paper, three kinds of research methodology (historical, case study and experimental/quantitative) are compared with regard to the degree to which each is able to affect policymaking. (Author/EB)