This handbook, which was written by researchers with expertise in Australia's technical and further education (TAFE) system, provides background information about the following: approaches to research in vocational education and training (VET); the range of methods normally used in research and their the application to VET; and procedures for…

This report summarizes research findings on the improvement of postsecondary teaching, learning, and assessment. It was found that 2-year and 4-year institutions provided relatively equal cognitive gains for students after the initial year, and that African American students attending historically black colleges or universities showed comparable…

This paper characterizes the school effects literature that has been conducted over the past 25 years with a focus on urban elementary and secondary schools. The features of the research studies reviewed are explored, including dependent and independent variables employed, sources of data, research methods used, and the number and direction of…

The speech, given to commemorate the tercentenary of the visit of Jan Komensky (Johann Amos Comenius--the latinised form of his name) to England, outlines the educational reforms suggested by him and chronicles his life. Komeny, born in 1652 in southeast Moravia, was personally affected throughout his life by war and disease and traveled about…

The research literature on the preparation of young people for work proves that policy recommendations are based on two false premises--academic skills are good substitutes for occupation-specific skills and increases in job turnover and skill obsolescence rates have caused a decline in the return to occupation-specific training by schools.…

A study analyzed attitudinal and demographic factors that influence women's choices of traditional and nontraditional training programs. A career choice survey was constructed, based on results of responses by four focus groups to questions regarding training program selection. The survey was completed by 532 women students in 15 technical…

In May 1993, 1,060 people in England and Wales were surveyed on the use of basic skills in everyday life. Data obtained from these questionnaires were weighted to reflect the demographic profile of the population in terms of age, gender, working status, and social class. Interviewees were asked 40 questions about activities they had done in the 7…

A random sample of 157 of the 265 agricultural/extension faculty listed in the 1993 "Directory of Teacher Educators in Agriculture" were mailed surveys regarding their perceptions of faculty productivity. Usable responses were received from 102 (65%) faculty. The respondents' ranged in age from 28-64 years (average age, 46). Ninety-two percent…

These proceedings and addendum contain 31 papers: "Linking Motivation and Participation in Adult Education" (Babchuk, Courtney); "Workplace Literacy Education as Contextual Learning" (Babchuk, Dirkx); "Model for Focusing Research in Adult Agricultural Education" (Birkenholz et al.); "A Research Agenda for Adult Civic Education" (Boggs,…

The conference provided a forum for practitioners and researchers to discuss practices, concepts, evaluation and research studies in order to improve practice in adult education. Included are the following: "Realizing the Potential for Grounded Theory in Adult Education" (Babchuk et al.); "Behind the Smoke and Mirrors of Reorganization" (Benson);…

This paper examines how, why, and by whom technology is being used in schools. Educational technology is defined as the systematic design and use of hardware and software to achieve specific objectives. Recent studies indicate that the most frequent location of computers in schools is in the administrative office; second is in the library media…

This book was developed to provide guidance in the process of systematic inquiry in the field of adult education and training. The book contains 11 chapters. It begins with an introduction and overview of the research process, followed by two chapters on how to shape a research problem and conduct a review of the literature that will help to…

A study evaluated the labor market outcomes of individuals with various types of postsecondary educational experiences. In particular, it examined differences among three groups: students who pursued technical education programs; those who pursued academic programs; and those individuals who did not pursue any type of postsecondary education. The…

A project was designed to improve communication between health professionals and patients with low literacy levels. A survey was sent to over 600 health professionals to identify their awareness of undereducated adults, determine priorities in patient communication, and collect a sample of current educational materials; 132 surveys were returned.…

This book, containing seven chapters and an epilogue, describes how continuing education--as a structure and a function--can become a unique tool for reorienting major universities toward confronting new societal challenges. "The Coming Wave" (Lerner) discusses relevant organizational theory to explain the special role of continuing education in…