The author considers the need for and the problems involved with research into educational futures, emphasizing that such a task demands detailed values-inquiry. He therefore suggests that educational philosophers begin to tackle problems at the classroom level and in cooperation with empirical researchers. (Author/SJL)

Presents a general description of curriculum studies made in the sociology of education and comparative education in the past decade. Discusses structural/functional studies, studies in the "new" sociology of education, and ethnomethodological studies. Argues that ethnomethodology provides the most heuristic approach to curriculum…

Considers evidence on the criteria and characteristics of critical period phenomena with respect to endogenous and exogenous influences. Describes and evaluates methodology of critical period research and discusses past attempts at subclassification of the field and "recovery of function" as a refutation of the critical period…

Points out the problems in designing and evaluating research on writing courses. (JL)

Points out that teaching writing with a process style and conducting in-class research may be inherently incompatible activities. (JL)

Professional evaluators are often called upon to analyze data produced by a catastrophically inadequate evaluation design. A remedial strategy involving diagnosis of error, application of a corrective procedure and sensitization of program personnel of the need for a more sophisticated stance, is proposed and illustrated with a case study.…

Compares the relationship between theoretical synthesis and historical research in light of research by Max Weber, Talcott Parsons, and Alfred Schutz. Traces theoretical developments within one subfield of sociology (action theory) and relates these developments to research problems confronting contemporary theoretical work in sociology. (DB)

This paper analyzes the concept of research in education and relates that analysis to the Scottish situation. Some of the areas of neglect are identified and explanations of a "political" kind are offered for the present unsatisfactory state of affairs. (Author/KC)

New data on retest reliabilities for three parental questionnaires, designed to measure children's temperaments at six months and at one and two years of age, were obtained with independent samples. The results showed a general level of retest reliability which was comparable to that of most temperament studies. (Author/RH)

Manipulated two aspects of the general empathy training situation in an attempt to produce higher levels of "empathic responding" following a brief training program. Results showed the experimental manipulations increased more empathic responses in the group asked to display competence than in the group asked to learn "empathic responding."…

Discusses problems with the use of stochastic (probabilistic) models for the analysis of juvenile offense data. Analyzes longitudinal data for White and non-White delinquents which show significant evidence of offense specialization and a random distribution of offenses if no specialization occurs. (Author/GC)

Investigates the extent of differences among survey results obtained as responses to an initial letter, a second letter, and a third contact by telephone or handwritten letter. There were considerable differences among the results from the three different contacts, with the later respondents being more negative in their answers. (CT)

Tested the hypothesis that subjects with elevated MMPI profiles would exhibit qualitatively different word associations from those with normal MMPI profiles. Results are interpreted as demonstrating the construct validity of the Sc scale in that the more pathological the profile, the greater degree of cognitive disturbance exhibited. (Author)

The Sarason Test Anxiety Scale was administered to students immediately after a course examination and to other students after a regular class period. A significant relationship between test anxiety and examination scores was obtained for the former group, and no significant relationship was found when intelligence was partialed out. (Author)

Describes common methodological inadequacies in research on treatment of obesity and suggests alternatives. Importance of multiple measurement of outcome is emphasized. Merits of alternative single-subject and between-groups experimental designs are discussed. Reasons for conspicuous lack of long-term follow-ups are analyzed. Recommendations for…