Provides an annotated bibliography of 14 recent ERIC documents on focus group applications in higher education. Includes documents describing colleges that have used focus groups to assess employer and public attitudes toward the college, assess institutional effectiveness, develop programs and curricula, and learn about student experiences. Lists…

Gender differences in 401 college students' career maturity were investigated with quantitative measures that included attitudes, decision-making skills, and vocational congruence. Analyses revealed that females scored significantly higher than males on each of the measures. Qualitative analyses revealed that the perception of barriers may serve…

Reports on a qualitative study of the psychosocial dynamics of school completion. A group of high school dropouts were compared with school completers in a large group of Haitians in New York City. Social support for education was the key variable that differentiated the two groups. (JPS)

This article discusses the relationship between theory and methodology in qualitative research, arguing that theory informs the questions that researchers ask, the assumptions they make, and the approaches they use. It outlines the six principles of critical research theory and discusses its application to the language learning of immigrant women…

This article discusses how qualitative research can inform language teacher education, focusing on the perspectives of teacher practice, knowledge, and understanding that affect teacher education research. It argues that researchers need to examine how teachers, students, parents, and others involved in the classroom construe their worlds and…

Describes qualitative study of chemistry laboratory groups of undergraduates to explore notion that a critical aspect of the environment in person-environment models is the nature and density of the social interactions of the people in the environment. Holland's hexagonal model of personality types was the framework used to study related…

Participant-observation research was conducted in the home care components of a free-standing inpatient facility associated with several hospice organizations over three years. The data are reported using negotiated order theory as a framework for understanding the hospice movement and its attempts to change the experience of dying. (JPS)

Progress of 26 female students aged 10 to 13 participating in 4 database-oriented activities--library research, database construction, information retrieval, and writing--was monitored through student worksheets, researcher and student logs, audio/videotapes, questionnaires, and tests. Improvement of cognitive and metacognitive skills including…

Discusses the potential impact of computers in qualitative health research. Describes the original goals, design, and implementation of NUDIST, a qualitative computing software. Argues for evaluation of the impact of computer techniques and for an opening of debate among program developers and users to address the purposes and power of computing…

Discusses how students construct mental images that aid estimation skills in the measurement of angles. Reports research identifying four strategies that students use to estimate sizes of angles. Strategies include utilization of the mental images of (1) a protractor; (2) a right angle; (3) a half-turn; and (4) angles of a polygon. (MDH)

Provides new evidence for mathematical problem-solving abilities of preschool children. These problem-solving behaviors occurred in a study of sharing of discrete items by dealing, in which we examined the abilities of three categories of counters to solve a discrete redistribution problem. Identifies problem-solving strategies used in the context…

This paper analyzes particular discourse markers (okay, oh, so, well, and now) to offer insights into how speech therapy lesson participants organized their interactions. Three regulatory role dimensions emerged, including information, evaluation, and control. It is concluded that comparisons and contrasts can be made between adult-controlled and…

This qualitative and interpretive study of the normalization effort for individuals with mental retardation in Sweden analyzes the cultural context; legislation, jurisdictional considerations, and societal attitudes; potential barriers to integration; and the economics of service provision. Sweden's system of comprehensive service and support…

A study documented 10 college students' understanding of the limit concept and the factors affecting changes in that understanding. Encouragement by the researchers for the students to change their common informal models of limit to more formal conceptions were met with extreme resistance. (Author/JJK)

Argues that sociology's future is bright. Cites the field's younger, more diverse professoriate; the more qualitative, critical research that will result from reduced educational funding; and opportunities provided by global change. Suggests that the post-Cold War era, ecological crises, and economic transformation will present challenges to…