In this review of the current state of humor research, the author traces the basic problems to two major deficiencies: (1) a lack of adequate theorizing concerning the effects of humor in communication, and (2) problems in experimental designs, particularly the study of humor in a laboratory setting. Too little research and insufficient attention…

This book is designated for an audience of the practitioners of education, especially those located in elementary schools. It is designed to investigate and explain research methods, terms, and concepts so that the reader can narrow down the many ways things are known or said to be known. Included in this book are chapters on the research process…

This document is an English-language abstract (approximately 1,500 words) summarizing the findings of the Committee on Social Science Research. Their investigations into student research revealed that whereas there was an increasing rate of registration for a Ph.D. degree, there was a parallel high incidence of dropouts; some 80% of candidates who…

A survey was conducted in an effort to determine the state of development of institutional research in Ohio public two-year institutions. A questionnaire mailed to the chief administrative officer at each campus yielded a response rate of 84%. Results of the survey showed: (1) at least 84% of the two-year campuses have or may be served by an…

This paper attempts to provide some insight into the reality of data analysis and interpretation. Community college institutional researchers should obtain the skills and techniques required in order to analyze and interpret data; however, there are a number of practical considerations usually not found in textbooks. These include: (1)…

After delineating the differences between Competency Based Teacher Education (CBTE) and traditional teacher education, the author analyzes the problems in conducting research on effective teaching/learning processes. He concludes that CBTE provides a better base for such research than traditional teacher education programs do. (SJL)

Discusses the concept of professionalization, two professionalism scales, a professionalism security typology, a Swedish survey that tested different ways of measuring professionalism, and occupational mobility, and research needs in this area. (GW)

There are differences between biomedical and educational research. The procedures associated with the protection of research participants cannot be transplanted from the medical setting into the educational setting in unmodified fashion without dislocation of many segments of educational research and development. (Author/EB)

When participants with varied background and interests join in a collaborative activity, their different viewpoints may make the evaluation of the activity more difficult. Experience evaluating a multidisciplinary biomedical research center illustrates the influence of values on program evaluation. (Author/GDC)

A reply to a critique of Pascual-Leone's model of children's information processing capacity. (BD)

The decisive power of an experiment, for both social evaluation research and laboratory experimentation as well, is only as strong as the clarity of the basic assumptions which underlie it. A dialectical methodology is proposed for assessing the influence of key assumptions in both settings. (Author/CTM)

From her experiences in a field study of nurses in hospitals for her doctoral disseration, the author offers practical suggestions to field researchers for planning a study proposal, preparing for the contingencies of field research, and setting up a good recordkeeping system for study costs. (MF)

Examines the controversy over the pursuit of knowledge and problems of access and disclosure as this controversy affects political science researchers. Concludes that political scientists must acknowledge the civic and ethical implications of their work. For journal availability, see SO 506 378. (Author/DB)

Research in criminal justice involving human subjects has increased greatly, yet we have no code of ethics to guide such research. This paper argues that the primary purpose of a code should be protection of these research subjects, who are especially susceptible to mistreatment because of their prisoner status. (Author)