A three-year pilot project was conducted to evaluate the feasibility of implementing a statewide off-road motorcycle training program for beginning drivers in North Carolina. The first year of the program involved approximately 422 students from five locations, the second year involved seven sites across the State. The three basic criteria for the…

The kinds of questions asked about the incorporation of computers into the classroom's social environment will largely dictate the methods of answering them. Asking about the effects of technology and the social life of classrooms is problematic, however. For example, traditional two-group, experimental studies are flawed because computers per se…

A review of the literature indicates that, in spite of differences in methodology, faculty surveys permit an explanation of academic psychologist's interest in instructional computing, the current extent of instructional computer use, and the differences between interest and use. All of the studies reviewed indicated a substantial interest in…

This paper reviews the methods and findings of published research on the validity of police selection procedures. As a preface to the review, the typical police officer selection process is briefly described. Several common methodological deficiencies of the validation research are identified and discussed in detail: (1) use of past-selection…

This paper analyzes the properties of the process of social and economic attainments in two contrasting situations: (1) when the process of attainment generates the distribution of attainments, and (2) when the structure of attainments is seen as exogenously determined. It is argued that the neoclassical economic theory of earnings determination…

Black professionals are not playing significant roles as recipients of grants from the federal government. In addition, blacks are not adequately represented in those disciplines which receive the greatest share of research support. The funding process at the federal level is dominated by white males who control the administrative positions, as…

Reviews and evaluative comments concerning the 11 papers read during the April 1976 portion of the Pittsburgh conference on the theory and practice of beginning reading are included in this document. Before the papers are reviewed, information is presented on some questions posed at the conference within the context of two issues that were raised…

The second Pittsburgh conference on the theory and practice of beginning reading, held in May 1976, is evalauted in this paper by pointing out some of the "critical incidents" that occurred at the conference and that indicated the types of interactions that must take place between reading theory and practice in the future. The paper…

The Conceptions of Reading project is examining the role of teacher beliefs and predispositions within the classroom, a complex task that has required modification of both conceptualization and research methodology. This paper discusses the original goals of the project, changes that have resulted from the first year of pilot studies, and proposed…

This paper contends that much of what passes as "educational research" has all the appearance, but little of the substance, of scientific research and that the educational community should realize this fact and condemn the imitation, while working to improve scientifically based and conducted projects. Problems in the field center around (1) the…

Multiple sources of complications in the analysis of multilevel educational data are described with emphasis on the determination of a method of analysis that will provide accurate estimates of teacher/class effects even when there are systematic differences in within-class regressions of outcome on input associated with teacher/class…

Questions the adequacy of the data gathered through error analysis procedures, the status of the interlanguage as an autonomous system and the value of descriptions based on error analysis for the language teacher and learner. Suggests that error analysis procedures may prove more useful for historical linguistics. Available from Instituut voor…

In reaction to the 1977 Survey of the American Professoriate by Everett C. Ladd and Seymour Martin Lipset, Serge Lang began a file of letters expressing concern over and opposition to the study. The controversy began when Lang wrote a letter to the researchers expressing his opposition, with copies to members of the academic community,…

This study was conducted to evaluate the usefulness of the PLATO instructional system to teach adult basic education and general educational development students basic mathematics and reading skills. The study was conducted with a control group of students who had no use of PLATO during an 18-month period, a second group of students who had less…