The author, the 1996 winner of the Council for Exceptional Children Research Award, reviews trends in research and changes in special education over the past 25 years. Emphasis is on the continued need for research on learning disabilities and ways to ensure that research findings are translated into practice. (DB)

Describes a teaching/learning center designed to enhance students' agency in their own education and in learning social responsibility. Presents a case study of a collaborative team-based model of teaching/learning at the college level. Discusses the pedagogical foundations of the teaching/learning-center concept. (DSK)

Discusses the strategic importance of institutional research in open universities in order to stay competitive with other more traditional universities. Suggests that a wide range of staff should be encouraged to conduct research based on reflective practice and emphasizes the need to conform to appropriate methodological and ethical standards.…

Reviews the literature that has led to the possible transformation of scholarly publishing through electronic distribution of journals. Discusses the concepts of scholarly communication and computer mediated communication; network delivery experiments; CD-ROM delivery projects; acceptance by the scholarly community; and research and development.…

This column presents views of professionals in the library and information studies (LIS) field and assess the state of LIS research. Questions are posed to researchers and practitioners in various LIS fields, asking them to address where they think the research front is. Six respondents focus their discussions on library and information center…

This article describes "Solve It!," a research-based instructional program for middle school students who have difficulty with mathematical word problems. It describes the theoretical framework of the program, reviews research on the program, presents an overview of the program, and discusses implementation issues such as finding time for…

Discussion of the research/practice gap in higher education suggests the importance of considering the forces influencing new faculty and researchers, including tenure and promotion policies and practices, institutional socialization, disciplinary culture, journal editors, and senior scholars. Offers suggestions for bridging the gap between new…

Suggests a new role for researchers in higher education, a teaching role requiring the researcher to make findings relevant, useful, and understandable to practitioners. Considers the educational role of individual researchers, educational accountability of the research community, and accountability measures for educational research. (Author/DB)

Addresses issues in the persistent gaps between the generation and use of scientific knowledge in educational and therapeutic practices in language disorders. Two science-practice linkage models are discussed for applicability to improved practice. Strategies for integrating research with practice are considered, with case studies illustrating the…

Professional associations in the library/information science field are viewed from the perspective of the value they bring to the field. Research and professional development are reviewed in this context based on the efforts of ALA (American Library Association), ALISE (Association for Library & Information Science Education), ASIS (American…

A review of literature on orientation and mobility (O&M) training for preschool children with visual impairments finds that these services have expanded rapidly despite lack of a well-documented and thorough research base beyond the demonstrated value of basic O&M instruction in early intervention. The review addresses the need for services,…

Suggests that digital resources and telecommunications give librarians the best chance in decades to reexamine and achieve many of their fundamental goals. Discusses the goals of providing the right information in appropriate formats, keeping the intellectual record, providing personalized information services, and serving as educators, and cites…

Contends that in order to make political science scientifically based, people within the discipline must reach a consensus on what a scientifically based discipline is, and communicate that information to the students. States that teaching about the scientific method may focus on a set of principles within the grasp of undergraduate students. (CMK)

This keynote address reviews previous efforts at developing a research policy agenda for child abuse and neglect, reviews medical research directions in child sexual abuse, suggests the author's views of potential research areas, and suggests a policy infrastructure to further implementation of the conference's proposals. (DB)

Discusses the importance of research to the school-library media specialist. Topics include levels of knowledge that help with informed decision-making; ways to overcome the gap between research and practice, including writing for scholarly journals; the need for publishing research from practitioners; and development of a research agenda for the…