Analysis of 19 studies using omnibus analysis of variance (ANOVA) F-tests resulted in reasons for replacing ANOVA with focused hypothesis testing, which is easy to compile and understand; is flexible; enables trend analysis, determination of confidence intervals, adjustments for violated assumptions, and control of Type 1 errors; makes effect size…

Argues that developmental psychology can profit by incorporating ideas from recent philosophies of knowledge. Delineates three "families" of philosophies of knowledge: the contemporary German critical-theoretical thinking of Holzkamp and Habermas; postmodern French thought; and North American multiple-voices approaches that emphasize the…

Notes alternative visions of the relationship between developmental psychology and three theoretical approaches described by Teo. Highlights four such visions: positivism or exclusivism, which rejects alternate viewpoints; inclusivism, which assimilates elements of alternate viewpoints; detachment or relativism, which sees different viewpoints as…

Professional literature extols the potential benefits of portfolios for teaching, learning, and assessment--particularly compared with traditional multiple-choice tests. Although initial findings favor portfolio assessments, the challenges lie in ensuring technical quality, equity, and feasibility for large-scale assessment purposes. Two major…

This discussion of the role of research in improving systems for people with severe disabilities identifies flaws in current research, including problems of topics, methods, and analyses. Solutions proposed include: (1) linkage of quantitative and qualitative research; (2) democratization of research by including subjects as collaborators; and (3)…

Argues that the very qualities that critics most object to in scientific work are those that afford the most productive communal discussion. Suggests that by disparaging objective methods and advocating increasingly subjectivist methods, compositionists may be impairing their ability to improve their own work and use it to promote social justice.…

When critiquing a 1992 IEA study of reading in 31 nations, Herbert Walberg unfairly panned U.S. reading instruction, considering that American 9-year-olds finished second and 14-year-olds tied for eighth place. Apparently, "progress" was down for high-scoring countries. Two UCLA researchers discovered that the Los Angeles student…

Summarizes the responses of six authors to questions on educational research intervention with students having learning disabilities. Notes agreement among the contributors to the discussion that terminology is an issue and that careful selection and description of subject groups is a critical component of intervention research. Identifies twelve…

Discusses key issues which address the distinctive dilemmas and challenges associated with qualitative approaches to evaluating counseling. Investigates such concerns as relationships with research participants, ethics, reflexivity, methodological choice, communicability, perspective, and obviousness. Makes some suggestions regarding the link…

Business/industry and academic/scientific values sometimes clash during collaborative research, for example, in limitations on free publication of results and the influence of money on the research agenda. A framework that maximizes mutual benefits and limits the potential for damage can resolve some of these conflicts. (SK)

This study reviews 26 meta-analyses in mental retardation in terms of selected hypotheses, sampling information, representative characteristics of the review, analysis of primary studies, interpretation of results, and reporting of the integrative view. Results indicate a wide variation in the amount of reported data similar to other analyses of…

Discusses measurement techniques for determining good reference service and describes results from a study of 12 public libraries in California that investigated reference service. Topics include inconsistent reference studies that showed reference service giving good results half of the time; and measuring unrelated outcomes of accuracy, utility,…

Observations on qualitative manuscripts submitted for publication identified problem areas: organization and format, relationship of concept and method, methodological issues (study type, conceptual framework, sample, data collection/analysis, integrity, data management), discussion, and data presentation. Recommendations for improving quality of…

Raises conceptual and empirical questions regarding: whether physical aggression is the main individual risk factor for antisocial behavior; the prospect that language impairment is also a risk factor; the meaning of the male preponderance for antisocial behavior; findings on environmentally mediated risk; the role of biosocial interplay; the…

Critiques the Canada Millennium Scholarship Foundation's claim that recent research indicates that "Canada must move beyond its focus on student financial assistance" as a means of ensuring access to postsecondary education since "three out of four Canadian youth cite non-financial reasons to explain why those chose not to pursue…