An emerging postpositivist paradigm for inquiry and research is outlined, based on recent thinking in philosophy, the natural sciences, and the social sciences. The paper delineates the paradigm's basic beliefs, considers methodological implications, and suggests applications in the education of the gifted. (Author/JDD)

Ten evaluation models are examined in terms of their applicability to investigative, emergent design programs: Stake's portrayal, Wolf's adversary, Patton's utilization, Guba's investigative journalism, Scriven's goal-free, Scriven's modus operandi, Eisner's connoisseurial, Stufflebeam's CIPP, Tyler's objective based, and Levin's cost…

Conducted qualitative study to hear voices of rural women in South Dakota reflecting on midlife experiences. Emerging themes constant with established theory included importance of affiliation, religion, feelings of mastery, and interdependent relationships. Themes that differed included broader definition of mastery as involving well-being of…

Discussion of positivist and interpretive approaches to research and postpositivism focuses on two studies that apply interpretive research in different ways: an exploratory study of user-developed computing applications conducted prior to a positivist study and a study of end-user searching behaviors conducted concurrently with a positivist…

Discusses use of the grounded theory approach to derive models of the information-seeking patterns of academic researchers. The background to the development of qualitative approaches to information studies in the United Kingdom is described, and the results of four studies of the information-seeking patterns of researchers are outlined. (Contains…

A theoretical approach to talent development in emerging nations is proposed, based on principles of curricular intervention derived from qualitative research. Implementation of such a culturally appropriate curriculum in Ebeye, Marshall Islands, illustrates the approach. Adaptations to other cultures are suggested. (Author/DB)

It is proposed that proportional reduction in loss (PRL) be used as a theoretical basis to derive, justify, and interpret reliability measures to gauge reliability on a zero-to-one scale. This PRL approach simplifies the interpretation of existing measures (e.g., generalizability-theory measures). (SLD)

In Britain, the pressure to develop financially efficient further education systems and satisfy formula funding criteria has required that policy be informed and validated via quantitative methodologies that gather, code, and analyze numerical data. This trend must be counterbalanced by qualitative research methodologies (case study and…

The results of this case study of a 15-year-old dropout indicate the potential usefulness of incorporating process mnemonics, particularly in the form of allegorical characterizations and stories, within mathematical instructional strategies for the learning disabled. (15 references) (JJK)

Provides an introduction to qualitative research methods. Describes principles of qualitative research and discusses appropriateness of qualitative methods for student affairs research. Explains qualitative methods, including design, data collection and analysis, and reporting of results. Identifies and addresses problems of trustworthiness of…

Quantitative and qualitative measures of patient satisfaction with psychiatric outpatient services were compared in interviews with 263 outpatients. Results indicate that expressions of dissatisfaction appear mainly in open-ended questions. Focus on the questions and acceptability of the data gathering procedure appears to influence responses…

Qualitative critical analysis examines how competing identities are managed within the environmental movement. Both mass media and in-house publications of environmental organizations served as data. Identifies and assesses primary identity problems and management strategies for each activist constituency. Discusses the implications of image…

Examined effectiveness of methods used by public and private institutions' handling of incarcerated delinquents. Concluded that organizational culture is key concept in delivery of services to incarcerated children and youth; that private sector provides alternative to public in delivery of services; that alcohol and drug treatment programs are…

Chaos theory, based on quantum physics research, boasts six central concepts: the butterfly effect, onset of turbulence, dissipative structures, random shocks, strange attractors, and recursive symmetries and feedback mechanisms. This article examines five principals' daily experiences, focusing on participants' efforts to generate meaning from a…

Offers a Burkean framework for study of collaborative business writing. Reviews the research on collaborative writing, explains a Burkean framework that identifies key areas for future investigation, and provides categories for conducting research. Argues for a research agenda that emphasizes qualitative studies first, to be followed by…