This study began validation of the Family Profile Form, constructed to link evaluation of couples and families with specific structured enrichment exercises. Reliability and validity with different samples of participants were found to be within acceptable limits of statistical significance. (Author/MKA)

Suggests two complementary frameworks for providing validity evidence for rating data. One conceptualizes raters as data collection instruments that should be subject to traditional procedures for establishing validity evidence; the other evaluates studies using raters from an experimental design perspective allowing the assessment of the study's…

Vacc, Loesch, and Gilbert (1997) argued that mental-health counselors do not require training in the treatment of mentally disordered clients for the majority of their work. This article argues that the authors' conclusion is not supported by the research evidence. Discusses reasons why mental-health counselors should receive training. (Author/MKA)

Critiques the conceptual framework of "The Bell Curve: Intelligence and Class Structure in American Life." Concludes evidence is grounded in the classical tradition, which may be the case for some of their data, but conclusions and policy recommendations are based on assumptions and not grounded in data. Discusses limitations of scientific…

Tests an eight-factor model of client actions/decisions in terms of the extent to which professionals counseling persons with HIV/AIDS believed that those actions/decisions presented ethical dilemmas, and the frequency with which they encountered such actions. Support for the model was shown. Several predictors of participant ratings are…

Within a computer-assisted smoking prevention and cessation program, 78 high school students completed a modified version of the Fagerstrom Tolerance Questionnaire twice during a two-month time period. Although analysis of the instrument revealed sufficient stability, future research should include the development of items that better reflect…

Presents findings from a scientific survey of student drug and alcohol behavior at Southern University, an all-black university. Results indicate that alcohol and wine coolers are the drinks of choice. Most of the students are moderate drinkers; however, 13% can be classified as relatively high risk. (MKA)

Presents a case study for use in the teaching of bioprocess design. Taking the production and isolation of the intracellular protein s. cerevisae, demonstrates how undergraduates can use a range of data to construct and then investigate the range of processes flowsheet options available for a process duty. (Author/SAH)

A general approach to the analysis of nominal-scale ratings is discussed that is based on a simple measurement error model for a rater's judgments. The basic measurement error model gives rise to an agreement model for the agreement matrix of two or more raters. (SLD)

Addresses the recognition of differences between clinical and research data in using computerized clinical nursing databases and the issues of privacy and confidentiality for patients whose records are involved. Describes procedures for assessing the quality and usability of these data for nursing research. (SK)

Grounded teaching and learning based on grounded theory involves continuous collection and analysis of data; hypotheses formed, rejected, and reformed during the process; and the data (learners' self-reporting of their learning experiences) as the focal point of activity. (SK)

Suggests strategies for computer-assisted reporting which students and professionals can apply to a database that they want to analyze. Identifies 13 such strategies, giving an example of each, pointing out some keys to selecting each strategy, and suggesting software most appropriate for carrying out each strategy. (SR)

Established and novel multivariate methods were used to examine informants' rankings of 73 motives/causes for truancy. Five main relatively homogeneous clusters of motives/causes emerged, two covering a previously recognized pattern of parent-condoned truancy, and three related to recognized syndromes of adolescent delinquency. It was suggested…

The authors (Ingham et al.) of the original report respond to criticisms by Kalinowski et al. that they misinterpreted their data in a study of the effects of frequency-altered feedback on stuttering in four single-subject design investigations. They also address larger issues concerning altered auditory feedback procedures. (DB)

Serves as an introduction to a set of articles on constructing meanings from data. Takes the viewpoint that internal mental processes, epistemological considerations, and pedagogical contexts are deeply connected, each providing structuring forces upon the others. (MM)