Considers the doubts the author has had about the design of an award winning study, focusing especially on a researcher's obligation to help the teachers with whom the researcher is working, even at the risk of jeopardizing a study's design. Traces the way that her engagement with that question has led to her current professional commitments. (SC)

Alan Krueger's reanalyses of Eric Hanushek's school-productivity data show that Hanushek's "money doesn't matter" conclusions (influential in several states' education-finance hearings) have no factual basis. Hanushek excluded Tennessee's student/teacher ratio study (Project STAR). Also, class size is influencing students' success in…

The sources of variability residing in the environment of individuals with autism and the implications for research studies are explored. Recommendations are provided for future research including research focusing on young children, on the methods needed to produce desirable outcomes, on relationships between behaviors, and on specific teaching…

Discusses two issues raised by Underwood et al.: the distinction between indirect and relational forms of aggression, and implications of indirect aggression for definitions of aggression; and the normative view of aggression that indicates that aggressive individuals may be socially skilled. Suggests that both issues lead to the conclusion that…

Results of the Aging Semantic Differential completed by 142 undergraduates showed significant attitude differences related to descriptions of "old,""elderly," and "ages 70-85." Attitudes were significantly more positive regarding the 70-85 category. Results suggest that using stereotypical language during the research process creates bias in…

Draws on data from the National Longitudinal Survey of Adolescent Health to illustrate the complexities of using large-scale surveys to measure adoption status. Discusses conceptual and methodological issues in measuring adoption status. Presents decision rules for determining adoption status across three sources of data: school self-administered…

Factors that impede research in university continuing education (UCE) include those affecting the field and those specific to the context of practice. The mandate, culture, staff qualifications, and nature of work and research in UCE make traditional research approaches problematic. A broader conceptualization of research could enhance its…

A research review supports the validity of the person-environment fit (PEF) model in vocational psychology; however, sampling inadequacies have influenced results. One PEF example, Holland's hexagonal model, is unsupported due to lack of commensurate measurement; most hexagonal congruence indices are invalid. (Contains 110 references.) (SK)

Includes "P-E [Person-Environment] Fit as Paradigm" (Dawis); "Pitfalls of Congruence Research" (Gati); "The Next Millennium of 'Fit' Research" (Hesketh); "Holland's Hexagon Is Alive and Well--Though Somewhat out of Shape" (Prediger); "Tinsley on Holland: A Misshapen Argument" (Rounds, McKenna,…

Discusses the negative experiences that the Cree of Quebec have experienced with behavioral scientists. Investigates this issue by conducting an experiment with a group of James Bay Cree, who were polled about their reaction to participating in the research. Several sources of reactivity were found: rigid protocols, requests for self-disclosure,…

Presents procedures for reducing attrition in clinical research and provides a case study for examination by researchers. Includes lists of preventative strategies and statistical methodologies to reduce attrition and bias. Argues that early planning for attrition by adjusting sample sizes is a scientifically sound approach to clinical research…

Summarizes Bruer's work, which questions the prevailing emphasis on the first 3 years as most critical to brain development. Notes that the book both elucidates a "blueprint" for mounting an effective public awareness campaign, and provides an excellent synopsis of implications of contemporary neuroscience for early childhood education…

Investigates three types of bad science: (1) cultural prejudice based on scientific errors (polygenism, phrenology, reification through intelligence testing); (2) unethical science (Tuskegee syphilis experiments, tobacco companies and research); and (3) unwitting errors (pesticides, chlorofluorocarbons). (Contains 50 references.) (SK)

Uses data from the 1994 AIDS Knowledge and Attitudes Supplement to the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) to illustrate that biased point estimates, inappropriate standard errors, and misleading tests of significance can result from using traditional software packages, such as SPSS or SAS, for complex survey analysis. (BF)

Although time and resource intensive, longitudinal studies offer the ability to examine the direction and magnitude of causal relationships that cannot be accomplished through cross-sectional design. (Contains 1 figure.)