This editorial, introducing a special issue on social-emotional development of students with learning disabilities, reviews general trends in recent research and curriculum development. The editorial presents social-emotional development as the next major area (following cognitive, metacognitive, and behavioral studies) from which meaningful…

Presents a history of information science and examines research problems that confront information science historians. Concludes that information science researchers need to draw on a range of related historical studies such as the history of science and technology, printing and publishing, and information institutions such as libraries, archives,…

Discusses problems of internal and external validity in research in educational computing. Highlights include three stages of modern research in educational computing, the need to describe control groups and instructional methodologies, and the need for a balance between theory and practice. (LRW)

A research psychologist and education consultant offers school board members some principles for appraising statistics: (1) distinguish between rates and numbers; (2) distinguish between ranks and scores; (3) try to "look through" the pictorial representation of data; (4) double check the data for accuracy; and (5) consider the source of the data.…

This paper, responding to Gathercole and Baddeley's commentary (EC 611 105), defends van der Lely and Howard's 1993 argument that deficits in verbal short-term memory (VSTM) do not cause children's specific language impairments (SLI). It is argued that while some children with SLI may have VSTM problems, the fact that many do not eliminates VSTM…

This counterpoint responds to Phillip Ward's commentary on a study by Gerald Biederman and others which concluded that verbal reinforcement in combination with interactive modeling strategies may produce confusion in children with language/learning difficulties. The counterpoint argues that the commentary indicates problems with semantics and with…

This commentary, on a study by T. Hollowood and others on inclusive education for students with severe disabilities, emphasizes that the research conditions should be clearly understood by readers of the study. The commentary calls for research on learner outcomes, training and qualifications of aides in inclusive education, and relative costs of…

Criticizes the computer modelling experiments conducted by Sokolik and Smith (1992), which involved the learning of French gender attribution using connectionist architecture. The article argues that the experiments greatly oversimplified the complexity of gender learning, in that they were designed in such a way that knowledge that must be…

The methodological and practical problems that are especially common in or unique to assessment research in correctional settings are discussed. The distinctive culture of correctional institutions and the complications caused by governing bodies contribute to the particular problems encountered in collecting and analyzing data. (SLD)

Responds to J. P. Rushton's contention that blacks are small-brained, oversexed criminals who multiply at a fast rate and are afflicted with mental disease. The author shows Rushton's views have virtually no scientific basis and were arrived at through unscientific methodology and literature based on racist prejudice. (GR)

Examines some problems and difficulties encountered in international comparative research programs in mass communications: comparability of units of analysis; lack of consensus manifested in dichotomization into "conventional" and "critical" approaches; and suitability of exported models, theories, concepts, and methods to Third World conditions.…

Extends the discussion of an article by J. Myers published in an earlier issue of this journal. Suggests that Myers's response to earlier critiques failed to address major criticisms. Readdresses 12 criticisms regarding research methodology, the role of the researcher, researcher-subject relationship, standards for researchers, and the notion of…

Investigates whether different measurements can significantly influence the outcome of a study. Examines whether voters learn more from political advertisements than from television news, using exposure and attention to measure television watching, confidence and accuracy to measure knowledge, and different control strategies. Finds that different…

First- and second-round commentaries on an article by L. Guttman are presented. The following authors responded, with two articles each: (1) E. E. Roskam and J. Ellis; (2) P. H. Schonemann; (3) A. R. Jensen; (4) J. C. Loehlin; and (5) J.-E. Gustafsson. (SLD)

Examines difficulties with citation analysis as it is used to study citation frequency, usually for the evaluation of scientists, publications, or institutions. Topics addressed include selection of a control set of papers, comparisons of different types of papers (e.g., methodological or theoretical), effects of independent variables, and use of…