Describes studies of children involved in cognitive play activities using discrete and continuous computer microworlds and their transformation of these activities into independent mathematical activity. (Contains 22 references.) (MKR)

Describes a study that was designed to investigate the relationship between certain features of interactive video design and the deployment and development of cognitive problem-solving skills. Middle school mathematics students used for the study are described, the use of videotapes and interviews is discussed, and group dynamics are examined. (26…

This paper presents findings of an ethnographic study investigating the first year of school for three Aboriginal students in two urban Australian classrooms. It considers how cultural differences, ideology, and micro-political processes marginalize Aboriginal students both academically and socially. (Author/DB)

Hypertextual ways to think about evaluation are explored, and hypertext computer programs are discussed. Hypertext is useful as a way to search out and link related material. It can help maintain, manipulate, and analyze nonnumerical evaluation data. (SLD)

Describes a study of 14 fifth graders concerning their understanding and attitudes toward the Persian Gulf War. Finds that the public school served as a significant socialization agent during the war, although television was even more important. Concludes that patriotic issues and activities overshadowed any attempts to have students think…

The main differences between pragmatism and scientific realism seem to focus on the certainty of knowledge. Pragmatists contend that one can never be entirely certain of one's beliefs, whereas scientific realists argue that progress has been, and can be, made in explaining things about the world. (SLD)

Methods used to evaluate a curriculum of nine medical departmental clerkships are described, and insights about the value of these methods in studying complex learning environments are discussed. Combining data on the 22 subjects obtained by 5 distinct methods allows examination of the big picture and specific details. (SLD)

Open-ended in-depth interviews with five expert occupational therapists uncovered situations in which they felt they had made significant differences in students' ability to learn. Major themes emerged: reframing, untold stories, and ambivalence and paradox. Discrepancies appeared between what they believe they should be doing and what they…

Discusses the role of readers' advisors in public libraries based on readers' responses to open-ended, qualitative interviews on reading for pleasure. Topics discussed include how books help people, how readers choose books, what they like and dislike about fiction collections in libraries, and how libraries and librarians can be more helpful to…

Five papers and an introduction discuss internal evaluation (IE), concentrating on the various sources of authority for IE and ways of enhancing IE authority. The roles of internal evaluators, conflicts in the evaluation process, and evaluation in a state education agency are reviewed. (SLD)

In an analysis of two American and two British texts, ethnographic studies of teachers are compared. The comparison reveals how different the approaches are, although both sets of texts use ethnographic methods, and how the role of the teacher is understood in contrasting ways in the two bodies of research. (IAH)

Seven qualitative issues associated with randomization that have the potential to weaken or destroy otherwise sound experimental designs are reviewed and illustrated via actual field experiments. Issue areas include ethics and legality, liability risks, manipulation of randomized outcomes, hidden bias, design intrusiveness, case flow, and…

Examines the manner in which the data-driven character of child development research limits the validity and penetration of the search for new knowledge and understanding, and imposes a skewed image of what is known about children and childhood by excluding the less objective observations and insights of the clinicians and practitioners.…

A pilot study in three rural Colorado communities that focused on health service delivery problems related to cancer concentrated on perceptions of community influentials, health care providers, and patients and their families. Results indicate that qualitative methods can identify crucial problems for most people without losing sight of outlier…

Explores neighborhood-based, interagency collaboration, using qualitative research methodology. Interagency participants believed that neighborhood-based collaboration provided treatment at the core of student struggles, shared responsibility among service providers for student problems, increased accessibility of services, and personalized…