This commentary argues that the study reported in EC 605 442, which indicated long-term gains for children with autism who experienced intensive behavioral intervention as preschoolers, needs to be replicated to be convincing, especially given the problem of nonrandom assignment of experimental and control groups. (JDD)

Discusses strategies researchers can use to help young children understand the research process and be better able to give informed consent. Argues that proxy consent from parents (historically used as a substitute for children's informed consent) does not fully meet the requirements of informed consent. (Author/GR)

Demographic, attitudinal, and response-completion differences were investigated for initial and delayed respondents to a mail survey targeting 600 elementary and secondary school teachers. Overall response rate was 71.2 percent. Twenty-five nonrespondents were interviewed. Delay of response was associated with lower interest in the topic and lower…

Responds to commentaries in this issue by Greta Fein and by Daniel Walsh and Gary King on criticisms of quantitative research. Argues that the data-driven nature of child development research has an impact not only on how research questions are answered but on what questions are asked in the first place. (MDM)

The underclass model used to describe the situation of inner-city Blacks cannot legitimately be employed to understand the social and economic status of Hispanic Americans. A comprehensive theory of Hispanic poverty must consider diversity of Spanish-origin groups; race; residential segregation; immigration; and role of the Spanish language.…

Discusses five common myths about statistical significance testing (SST), the possible erroneous and harmful contributions of SST to educational research, and suggested alternatives to SST for mathematics education research. (Contains 61 references.) (MKR)

Argues that little of what Michael L. Penn, Stanley O. Gaines, and Layli Phillips (1993) have to say in their article "On the Desirability of Own-Group Preference" about ethnic own-group preference is new and that it is distorted and naive interpretation of social history to carry on the tradition of blaming African Americans for the…

Acknowledges that early-childhood education is a global practice and examines underlying images of the child. Questions the adequacy of current research to encompass global childhoods, how child development is conceptualized within early-childhood work, and children's status within early-education research and practice. Notes a current paradigm…

Reviews research into class size effects from a methodological viewpoint, concentrating on various strengths and weaknesses of randomized controlled trials (RCT) and observational studies. Discusses population definitions, causation, and generally sets out criteria for valid inferences from such studies. Illustrates with new findings from data in…

Examines the possibility that parent-child relationships contain horizontal qualities paralleling comparable qualities in child-peer relationships. Argues that these qualities allow children to experience and practice horizontal skills later used with peers. Focuses on reciprocity and shared power, especially in parent-child play and control…

Examines the existing research on multiculturalism in general teacher education and special education teacher preparation programs. Results find that a significant degree of research on multicultural teacher education has been narrow in scope and has utilized a pre/post test design to measure student growth. (Author/CR)

Despite the need for more and better research on rural education, recent federal policy trends favoring broadly applicable, "problem-centered" research threaten to abandon responsibility for "targeted" populations to the agendas of private and state-based organizations. Rural research funding is discussed in relation to the…

Discusses methodological problems of Sigman and Ruskin's longitudinal study. Questions whether determination of specificity, universality, and uniqueness is appropriately addressed by between-syndrome comparisons. Describes problems with group matching, offers a method of partially correcting them, and argues that group designs have limited…

Addresses questions about group comparisons and the extent to which the original Sigman and Ruskin study identified specific, unique, and universal deficits in autism. Considers the alternate methodology for measuring improvements in the performance of children with Down syndrome and autism. (JPB)

Using research findings and statistics to support a policy argument often leads to misinterpretations and exaggerations of public school performance. Two experts illustrate this point by discussing examples of distorted high school drop-out rates, student performance on standardized tests, and international comparisons of U.S. and Japanese…