States that participants in a qualitative case study of nonacademic R&D authors thought their reports were more informative than persuasive. Describes how three definitions of "persuasion" emerged. Concludes that most of the participants felt they owed a greater debt to their subject matter rather than the audience; some participants…

States that recent emphasis on reflexivity has caused cross-cultural researchers to reexamine their methods and underlying assumptions. Examines the impact of cultural factors on quantitative/qualitative research methodologies, specifically, the impact of cultural values, political constraints, educational level of informants, and context.…

Examined perceptions of racial and ethnic identities held by 31 undergraduate students, including preservice teachers. Identified five primary themes: "whiteness" as invisible to whites; whites' belief that being non-white is a condition that can be overcome; varying perceptions of "race,""ethnicity," and…

This commentary on the previous article on an interpretive research approach discusses the journey of a researcher from radical behaviorism, to interpretive social science, to an emerging viewpoint in which art more than science is used as a way of seeing issues related to disability, education, and change. (Contains 10 references.) (CR)

A qualitative study of three Chinese interactive multimedia programs and interviews with multimedia designers were undertaken to develop user interface design guidelines for Chinese multimedia designers. The study revealed that most multimedia designers do not have formal training in user interface design and employed few guidelines. Recommends…

Should efforts to learn about programs and outcomes be called "research" or "assessment"? The name makes all the difference. Trying to adhere to the standards of research may hinder effective assessment. In this discussion, assessment is compared and contrasted with research to explain how these forms of inquiry differ though methodology is…

This observational study of the social interactions of 16 children with autism or Down syndrome in their homes found that differences in the frequencies and complexities of children's behaviors depended on behavioral intent in both groups. Socially intended behaviors were less frequent, less self-initiated, and less complex in children with…

Uses heuristic inquiry to explore learning in professional developmental relationships of nine mid-career women. Finds that women's developmental relationships are created and sustained largely through talk, and that they experience not only instrumental, performance-based learning, but also learning that significantly revises beliefs, attitudes,…

Examines U. S. research on child-welfare outcomes, focusing on family preservation, out-of-home care, and family reunification services. Highlights the range of mixed findings and discusses methodological issues and constraints. Maintains that future outcomes research should complement the use of rigorous quantitative methods with careful…

Presents findings from a study entitled "Developmental Students' Perceptions of the Factors that Contribute to Academic Success." Focuses on the factors students identify as being significant in creating, nurturing, and maintaining commitment. Specifies the influence of role models, goals, personal circumstances, and the observation of the…

Examines the nature of ethnic identity development by analyzing published autobiographical accounts of 39 Asian Americans. Reveals a pattern of exploration and decision-making by the narrators which results in greater understanding and self-identity and greater self-acceptance as a member of an ethnic minority. Discusses implications of these…

Illustrates the use of meta-interviews, a research strategy for enhancing the credibility of claims made from analyses of interview data, drawing on experiences with meta-interviews in two studies conducted in South Africa and Canada. The paper concludes that meta-interviews can enhance the persuasiveness of research documents, bringing…

Family therapists presenting a regional marriage and family therapy conference were interviewed about ethnicity issues in therapy. Questions focused on ethnicity in the therapy process; ethnicity issues for the therapist and the client; strategies when ethnicity is an issue; and recommendations for ethnicity training. Qualitative analysis revealed…

A national survey of 556 faculty at accredited schools of social work examined 4 dimensions of the publishing process: publishing productivity, perceptions of overall quality of social work journals, satisfaction with social work journals, and perspectives on the manuscript review process. Findings indicate the publishing process in social work is…

This article offers a multidimensional framework that broadens current approaches to "best practices" inquiry to include (1) the perspectives of both the consumers of services and professional practitioners and (2) a value-based critique. The predominant empirical approach to best practices inquiry is a necessary, but not sufficient, component of…