McCauley and Colberg described a theory of transportability and provided data to demonstrate the feasibility of their approach. It is argued that the transportability notion resembles earlier cross cultural work and does not add new insights into cross cultural comparison. Their statistical checks do not preclude the possibility of bias.…

This paper presents two major criticisms of the construct validity investigation of the McCarthy Scales of Children's Abilities conducted by Watkins and Wiebe (1980). The criticisms pertain to the nature of the data presented and the accuracy and appropriateness of the statistical procedures employed. (BS)

The paper is intended to provide an impetus for more widespread familiarity with and use of qualitiative research methodology among educators concerned with the education of persons with severe handicaps by examining the state of the art in qualitative research methodology. Among topics are subject and setting selection, strategy, corroboration,…

Comments on the debate between Rush and Kotelchuck and colleagues, regarding the effects of WIC participation on pregnancy outcomes. Points out the dilemma posed by the need to justify maternal and child health programs by pointing to quantifiable gains, rather than by the advocacy of such programs as a social responsibility. (GC)

Examines what it means when youngsters tell researchers they are concerned about the nuclear arms race. The nuclear concerns picked up in surveys may be deep or they may indicate a superficial awareness of a hot political topic. (JN)

Describes problems in Middle Eastern studies, focusing on: (1) the problem of access for students and faculty conducting research due to countries being completely closed or highly restrictive; (2) declines in Middle Eastern and American corporate donations to language and area studies as oil prices decrease; and (3) the difficulties inherent in…

Presents a framework in which notions of cross-cultural equivalence are related to the abstraction-concreteness and the universality-cultural difference continua. Uses this framework to compare strategies proposed to improve cross-cultural measurement of characteristics and behavior other than ability and aptitude. Suggests that the adoption of…

The use of nominal group technique in course evaluation has these advantages: it restricts the researcher's influence, encourages respondents to frame their own responses, sustains individual autonomy during group pressure, and provides respondents with knowledge of the full range of possible responses. However, it also underestimates group…

The use of single-case research techniques as a method for social work students to identify, change, and record conditions and behaviors relevant to their practice is discussed, and some of the obstacles in using the techniques and possible educational strategies to overcome the obstacles are outlined. (MSE)

Discusses results of two 1983 educational microcoputer use studies which indicate schools are acquiring microcomputers but lightly utilizing them, and concludes that this may be due to lack of research on the intelligent use of microcomputers. Research questions needing answers are noted and scarcity and problems of research are discussed. (MBR)

Solutions to methodological problems in medical technologies research synthesis relating to temporal change, persons receiving treatment, research design, analytic procedures, and threats to validity are presented. These solutions should help with the planning and methodogy for research synthesis in other areas. (BS)

Introspective interviewing can often determine the magnitude of relations more meaningfully than statistical analysis. Deduction from empirically validated premises avoids many research design problems. Guesswork can be combined with sensitivity analysis to determine the effects of guesses and missing information on conclusions. (Author/DWH)

Discusses the obstacles and opportunities that school counselors face in attempting to conduct research in the public schools. Suggests that engaging in research and program evaluation may necessitate restructuring the goals of the guidance program, altering the priority of counselors' tasks, and modifying the expectations of various groups within…

In 1979, Eric Hanushek pointed out a potential problem in estimating educational production functions, particularly at the precollege level. He observed that it is frequently inappropriate to include school-system variables in equations using the individual student as the unit of observation. This study offers limited evidence supporting this…

In this paper, tables for the appropriate sample sizes are presented and discussed in the context that the determination of the effect size must precede the determination of the sample size. (Author/PN)