Several qualitative studies in biliteracy (a term used to describe children's literate competencies in two languages) among students in English/Spanish bilingual elementary school classrooms have as their core thesis the notion that children, from both Latina/o and other student populations, have the potential to develop literacy in two languages…

A study examined the concept of the "hero" in a qualitative manner. It aimed to synthesize the subjects' personal definitions of the concept in a "consensus" definition and to compare and contrast stated heroes/heroines across generational lines for notable trends or patterns. Subjects, 80 persons (40 males and 40 females) who…

This study compared and contrasted the use of hypertext and relational database knowledge representation techniques in the analysis of qualitative data. A parallel analysis of teacher interview transcripts was conducted with two computer programs: "EntryWay," a hypertext editor, and "FoxBase+/Mac," a relational database with a…

The rush to do qualitative enquiry in education in the past decade has spawned a variety of methodologies and non-methodologies. The desire for absolute rules and lawlike procedures lingers and the current search is for certain rather than good judgments about educational phenomena. A methodology described as "quasi-historical" is…

The purpose of this study is to explore the potential uses of photography and its practical implications as a qualitative evaluation technique. Potential uses are proposed: (1) systematic recording of a program activity; (2) highlighting specific events; (3) illustrating a point; (4) leading the evaluator to specific persons, activities, and…

Described are the history, characteristics, and current status of Dutch youth studies attempting to delineate the concrete, day-to-day living experiences of students, young workers, unemployed youngsters, girls, and other young people. Providing an introduction to 'life-world' research on Dutch youth, Section I links research programs to the…

Communication scholars should be skilled in the use of focus groups in communication research and in interpreting the data this approach generates. The focus group is a discussion group that concentrates on a particular topic or topics and typically consists of eight to 12 participants. The group is facilitated by a moderator who follows a…

A study examined magazine editors' views of some of the ethical considerations posed by digital alteration of photographs. Subjects, 12 consumer news and specialty magazine editors, were interviewed by telephone and asked a series of questions concerning the ethics of digitally manipulating photographs. Results indicated that magazine editors were…

States that educational researchers have very little knowledge that they know for certain. Provides an overview of the relationship between research and philosophy, addressing three questions: (1) What is real in education? (2) What can be known about educational reality? (3) What is the relationship between educational research and what we know…

Uses a case study to illustrate problems associated with historical reasoning. The problems highlighted are confusion over the difference between reason and cause, enthusiasm of the antiquarian, misguided search for "essence," misconceptions as to when to quantify, propagandistic tendencies, equating sensationalism with importance,…

Discusses using focus group interviews to advance the state of the art of education and learning about health. Also examines small group process in health education, features of focus group interviews, and a theoretical framework for planning a focus group study. A literature review is included. (CT)

Two forms of naturalistic evaluation have appeared within the past decade: (1) a collection of qualitative techniques that are complimentary with conventional quantitative methods; and (2) an alternative paradigm that emphasizes the negotiation of multiple socially constructed realities, interdependence of facts and values, and the emergent…

The author discusses student evaluation in relation to adult and continuing education programs offered by the Department of Adult Education, University College, Cork. He highlights the need for a more individualized and interactive approach to evaluation, allowing the student to benefit from qualitative feedback in the process of being evaluated.…

Claims that journalists and anthropologists can improve their work by studying each other's methods and describes a number of similarities between members of the two occupations, namely, that both are observers of the human condition with much responsibility. Discusses a seminar conducted in June 1985 that verified this claim. (JD)

Presents an overview of qualitative methods, an analysis of the relationship between qualitative and quantitative approaches in social and cultural research, and a brief discussion of the issues of reliability, validity, and researcher objectivity in qualitative research. Discusses the application of qualitative methods to occupational therapy,…