This report highlights the structure and analyses of states' initiatives in attaining the purposes of the Carl D. Perkins Vocational Education Act. The intent of the study was to take "snapshots" from key perspectives during 1988 of what states are doing to meet the intents of the act as spelled out in 14 purposes. Examples, or…

The microteaching course continues to be a focal point in the preservice training of science teachers. The purpose of this study was to qualitatively investigate the effects of a microteaching course on preservice science teachers' perceptions of teaching, instructional behaviors, decision making skills, and any changes in beliefs occurring…

Through individual interviews with remedial and precalculus university students, five characteristics of the student were identified that influence whether a diagram is used in solving a problem and whether its use is successful. The interviews also suggested a set of subskills that contribute to the overall ability to draw effective diagrams.…

Seven functional families with handicapped children were studied using a case study approach. Through the qualitative paradigm, the development of successful coping mechanisms was examined. The parents completed an instrument called "CHIP, Coping Health Inventory for Parents," and all family members were interviewed. Subject families were…

Instructional leadership literature presents two contrasting themes: (1) the school as a loosely coupled system allowing teachers considerable instructional autonomy; and (2) the school as a culture where the effective principal uses symbolic leadership to unite the staff in a common effort to achieve the school's mission. If both themes are…

In light of increasing concern over media portrayals of women as willing victims of violence, a study examined images of violence against women in advertising, with the goal of determining to what extent advertisers were aware of the implied violence against women in the ads they sponsor, and, if advertisers were aware of the underlying…

The paper states that quantification is neither ethical nor unethical, but is ethically neutral. It is the behavior or intent of the human being that is clearly a matter of ethical concern. Like numerology and the sects of inumerates and qualitatives, there is not so much an unethical practice that is supported as there is a lack of vision and…

Notes the central role and ultimate importance of the undergraduate, research methods textbook within sociology. Reviews nine new textbooks, and reveals substantial variation in coverage and approach. The review is based on the degree to which the texts address eight important goals for the undergraduate research course. (JDH)

Describes the application of a multimethod research approach to obtain data on students at a small college. Emphasizes the value of the multimethod/multitrait research strategy, also referred to as triangulation, or convergent methodology, where two or more methods, often qualitative and quantitative, are integrated to study the same variables.…

Presents description of the Generalized Automatic Text Organization and Retrieval system (GATOR), a database system that indexes and retrieves information from machine-readable texts such as interviews and case histories. Qualitative and quantitative analyses are discussed, and integrating GATOR with standard statistical packages is described.…

Describes study designed to investigate students' attitudes and strategies when writing with the aid of a computer. Interviews with four undergraduates enrolled in a computer-assisted section of advanced composition are discussed, and participant observation and document analysis are also used to examine the combined processes of composing and…

Three concepts that emerged from qualitative study exploring feelings of college students about using libraries for research--students generally feel that their library-use skills are inadequate; inadequacy is shameful and should be hidden; inadequacy would be revealed by asking questions--led to formulation of a grounded theory of library…

This project developed in response to the national research priority of the role of vocational education and training (VET) in building economic and social capital in regions and communities. Several key streams of work have been identified in relation to this objective, including regional segmentation, indicators and performance measures, and…

This study reports on teacher-interns' observations of research sessions involving urban students participating as subjects in an informal mathematical learning afterschool program. The research comes from a project that investigates how minority students from low-income, urban community build mathematical ideas and engage in mathematical…

The GK-12 program of the National Science Foundation is an innovative program for enriching the value of graduate and advanced undergraduate students' education while simultaneously enriching science and mathematics teaching at the K-12 level. GK-12 is a fellowship program that offers graduate students and advanced undergraduates the opportunity…