Research is an important activity for second-language educators because it ultimately improves teaching abilities. Unfortunately recent trends in research have resulted in narrow perspectives, increased jargon, and esoteric subject matter. The goal of second-language research should be increasing communication and knowledge throughout the…

Current policies concerning popular dissemination of research results are critiqued, and the formal induction of the press into the scientific process is discussed. Repercussions of a "New England Journal of Medicine" article on the effects of oat bran and low-fiber wheat on health are used to illustrate the issues. (TJH)

Maintains that professionalization theories for pedagogics, which center on the individual and on competence, must be complemented by a historical-functional analysis. Proposes a corresponding interpretation on the function of education in modern societies, and gives an outline of its theoretical foundations. Discusses problems of…

Describes the increased acceptance of constructivism as a research paradigm in the social sciences and its applicability for interviewing in educational research. Notes major sources of this viewpoint and highlights a validity dilemma relative to the roles of interviewer and interviewee. Proposes the strategy of hierarchical focusing as a means to…

This editorial describes the role of early intervention programs in helping children with disabilities, focusing on parents' and infants' needs, the Family Service Plan, and the role of case managers. The editorial cautions that: early intervention's effectiveness is unproven, early is not always better, and more is not always better. (JDD)

Describes the work of the Oxford Project on Diversification of First Foreign Language Teaching (OXPROD). Specifically looks at the difficulties of setting up an investigation which takes account of pupils' language aptitude and attitude in a sample of schools. Outlines future development of the project. (KO)

Studies the current epistemological values of North American feminist psychologists. Explores whether the political commitments, personal identities, and professional activities of psychologists are systematically related to different worldviews and different beliefs about the nature of human experience. Lends support to the idea of situated…

Examined existing literature on links between bereavement after suicide and the subsequent development of adolescents including increased suicide risks. Found inconsistent definitions of adolescence in literature, samples of adolescents were drawn from those in psychotherapy, and other methodological problems. (Author/ABL)

Reviews the conceptualization, methodology, productivity, interpretation, and application of teaching research which focuses on the relation between classroom processes (teaching) and products (what students learn). (DE)

Argues that generalizing to message populations by treating messages as a random variable is inappropriate for complex messages, and proposes meta-analytic techniques for investigating biases in message samples and other methodological factors that can limit generalizability of communication research. (MS)

The Regular Education Initiative is presented as a flawed policy initiative that focuses on highly emotional issues (integration, nonlabeling, efficiency, and excellence), thereby distracting attention from deeper analysis; lacks the support of critical constituencies; rests on illogical premises; and reflects a cavalier attitude toward…

Discusses ambiguities in research that arise from the fact that chronological age reflects different components. Considers methodology, components of age as indices of different aspects of development, differential effects of experiences according to their timing, and maturational delay. (RJC)

Reports two studies of a method for classifying justifications of moral judgments and suggests its use in demonstrating developmental trends during adolescence. Argues that this method distinguishes content of moral judgments from justifications for them, analyzes justifications relative to both abstraction and reflection, and assigns…

Examines research concerning young children's ability to learn history without the appropriate developmental ability to understand time. Argues that much research is conducted within a narrow focus causing educators and researchers to ignore the development of the child. (KO)

Present examples of the difficulty of relying on computer programs to identify and communicate with students in academic difficulty, while still making room for human intervention and professional judgement. Illustrates some of the limitations of computer tracking systems. (DMM)