In an effort to maintain internal validity while maximizing the generalizability of evaluation results, the theory-testing methodology that links program activities to outcomes (program theory) is proposed. To evaluate a program by explicating and testing the program theory is to perform evaluation as theory testing. (PN)

Defines the "unit of analysis" and the "context of analysis" and examines examples of the misuse of these concepts in research articles in the "Educational Administration Quarterly." Discusses the use of various statistics with different analytical units and contexts and makes three recommendations to alleviate the…

Two situations in educational research in which analysis of covariance is often incorrectly used are described, and problems in interpretation resulting from the application of analysis of covariance in these situations are considered. (Author)

Communication researchers have recently expressed concern with the lack of statistical power in their literature. Authors propose a method for increasing statistical power: the partitioning of the decision region in three parts. This procedure results in an unambiguous interpretation of nonsignificant results and leads to increased power. (PD)

Compares the historical approach to research methodologies in other social sciences. The author concludes that history, as a discipline, is more of a humanity because it does not claim to understand why changes occur over time, but devotes itself to describing the past events which shape present and future. (AM)

Discusses methodological problems involving use of MMPI by reviewing past literature. MMPI is so easily used that it is sometimes misapplied or data obtained from it are incorrectly analyzed by researchers unfamiliar with its limitations or peculiarities. Suggestions for improving research design are made. (Author/BEF)

Argues that research on child psychopathology would benefit from reduced influence of adult treatment models and from applying developmental perspective to clinical research on children. Research needs, including need to devise and use well-standardized measures and to evaluate interactions between subject and treatment variables, are suggested.…

As a result of rejection by personnel psychologists of the erroneous law of small numbers and of the adoption of correct inferential procedures, the future of criterion-related validity promises to be bright. Probable future developments include widespread appreciation of the low statistical power characteristic of small samples. (Author)

Concerning their study of Wisconsin school superintendents, the authors comment briefly on small differences between their own tactics for modeling mobility and the tactics used by some others, including Schmittlein and Morrison. (Author/MLF)

This article describes some of the problems in the areas of ethics, rapport and understanding which confront researchers when they assume the role of a friend in observing and interacting with children. (EB)

Summarizes television research findings and theories, discusses research problems, categorizes instructional television variables, defines and describes "task relatedness," and presents the results of a survey of instructional media professionals concerning their opinions on instructional television use and their reactions to the concept of task…

Describes ethnography as a form of research that allows the researcher to be part of daily events within the school setting. This form of research combines the objectivity of an outsider with the sensitivity necessary for understanding settings in which information is exchanged. (KC)

Identifies and discusses three myths that pervade experimental counseling and psychotherapy: (1) that experimental subjects receive treatments appropriate to their clinical problems; (2) that the treatments are deployed as purported; and (3) that control groups customarily used by researchers allow them to determine the existence of a treatment…

Interest in research summarization is highlighted. Applying a case study method to the research on note taking from lectures, this paper shows more evidence in favor of taking notes than had been recognized. Reasons for doubting excessively pessimistic conclusions of research reviews are given. (Author/GK)

The study of the Functional Literacy Program in India encountered problems of opposition to evaluation, inappropriate respondents, and difficulties in contacting participants, which point to changes that should be made in the evaluation methods. (SK)