This report describes presentations and discussions at a seminar to bring together research initiatives in the area of functional literacy and to explore appropriate ways of developing policy-driven research in all countries. Opening remarks by representatives of the European Community, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development,…

This handbook brings together information on the who, what, where, when, why, and how of adult basic education (ABE) research in Australia. Chapter 1 describes the ABE Research Project that developed this handbook. It summarizes the rationale and context for the project, describes its aims and content, provides details of the information gathering…

An important topic presented in introductory statistics courses is the estimation of population parameters using samples. Students learn that when estimating population variances using sample data, we always get an underestimate of the population variance if we divide by n rather than n-1. One implication of this correction is that the degree of…

This paper reviews research which has focused upon teacher nonverbal immediacy behaviors, and notes implications for additional research which considers culture as a key research variable. Specifically, the paper: (1) reviews and discusses previous research which has investigated nonverbal communication in classrooms, with an emphasis on teacher…

A study was conducted to identify key long-term research areas for Nebraska's vocational education community. The Delphi survey technique was used with 22 Department of Education personnel, 18 of whom completed both rounds of the study. A 1-5 Likert rating scale was used to identify 23 research topics, which were thematically clustered into the…

The relative contributions of four individual difference variables to ability to solve analogically related problems in four separate problem sequences and for spontaneous and assisted transfer was examined. Subject were 116 university undergraduates enrolled in an introductory psychology course who volunteered to participate for course credit and…

A meeting held in Berlin provided a forum for researchers from the Central European countries of Czechoslovakia, Hungary, and Poland to discuss the research situation in vocational education and training (VET) in their countries and to discuss the possibilities for developing forms of cooperation with researchers from the 10 Western European…

This publication contains revised versions of the major papers presented at a research conference on the learning and teaching of algebra. The papers and discussions focused on four major themes: what is algebra and what should it become, in light of continuing technological advances; what has research told us about the teaching and learning of…

The goal of the research is to study directory entries for selected electronic journals and newsletters. Directory entries for the first directory of electronic journals and newsletters are analyzed from the user's point-of-view. Completeness of the directory entries, the accuracy of the information they contain, and the accessibility of the…

The Joe Camel campaign by RJR Nabisco began in 1990 in an attempt to increase the brand's sagging market share. Studies showed the campaign's appeal to young children and teenagers. In the debate that followed, several children's advocates renewed their appeals for restriction on cigarette ads. A review of the literature shows that children are at…

Secondary education in Malta has gone through extensive reform and counter-reform in recent years. Maltese schooling culture hitherto had been very selective and traditional in its outlook, while implementation policy utterly disregarded both the cultural constraints and the unpreparedness of teachers for radical reform. The result was a steep…

This review examines both the popular and research literature on interdisciplinary teaching and learning at the middle grades level. The review discusses terminology; the rationale for integrating learning; and such features of the interdisciplinary approach as a curriculum plan demonstrating "connectedness," a holistic approach, preparation for…

The proposed activities of the Office of Research and Evaluation of the Austin (Texas) Independent School District in 1990-91 are outlined. Evaluations and other major projects focus on: (1) externally funded projects; (2) systemwide achievement testing; and (3) systemwide evaluation. Twelve evaluations will assess the impact of programs and…

The rate of the change now occurring outside of community colleges has made long-range planning an especially difficult task. Futures research, which attempts to forecast future scenarios by studying societal, economic, and demographic trends, can be used effectively to facilitate the institutional planning process by anticipating both internal…

This report is part one of three volumes to be published by the Office of Technology Assessment (OTA) in response to the request of members of Congress to review the physical, emotional, and behavioral health status of contemporary U.S. adolescents, including adolescents in groups who might be more likely to be in special need of health-related…