Discussed are the assumptions which underpin research studies of the effects of pupil, school, and local education authority characteristics on student achievement in Great Britain. The purpose is to clarify the necessary limitations on knowledge imposed by various research methods and to suggest how these might be improved. (RM)

Historical views about individuals and communities shape the ways that researchers interact with people and their communities. The European settlers thought of Native Americans as savages in need of socialization. Accordingly, the first researchers had little concern for the needs of Native people and their communities and sought to impose Western…

A brief review of the papers presented at the Symposium on Research and Evaluation Methodology highlights some of the major issues of research in Indian Country. There is a need to translate research results into terms that are meaningful at the local level, yet the act of doing this reveals tensions between scientific objectivity and advocacy.…

This report examines the feasibility of implementing a student unit record system to replace the student-related components that currently are based on aggregate institution-level data collected as part of the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS). The feasibility study was initiated by the National Center for Education Statistics…

Recognizing the importance of leadership in determining the quality of early care and education programs, the International Leadership Project (ILP) was initiated in 1996 to develop an understanding of cross-cultural perspectives on leadership, to develop a conceptual framework of leadership, and to develop cross-cultural methodologies for…

Reviews several potential problems that often invalidate statistical tests of social theories. Discusses how there may be very serious identification problems in the estimation of the relationship between executions and homicides, and that serious questions may be raised regarding the validity of any particular estimation of this relationship.…

The physical abuse of children by their parents is a family matter and should be viewed within the context of the family unit. Discusses methodological considerations and parent-related aspects of abusing families, including: characteristics, childhood experiences, and marital relationships of abusing parents. (Author)

A reply to Plomin's critique and some criticisms of Munsinger's review of adopted child literature are presented. Selective bias in adoptee samples, implicit assumptions in models that lead to heritability estimates, and problems produced by lack of an accepted model of environmental transmission are also discussed. (Author/RD)

A life-course perspective is applied to the study of human development in an ecological context. Human lives are depicted in terms of aging, career and historical setting. The adequacy of global measures is assessed and explanatory assessments of the relation between environmental and personal change are recommended. (Author/RH)

Studies concerning the impacts of electronic calculators on mathematics-related achievement and attitudes were reviewed. Results showed support for the computational benefits due to calculator use, but support for conceptual benefits was minimal. Hypothesized changes in general attitudes toward mathematics for those using calculators was…

A detailed and critical analysis of the evaluation of the Follow Through program is presented. The history, critical decisions, and politics of the evaluation are examined. (JKS)

To comply with federal law, the Institutional Review Board at the University of Texas Health Science Center is charged with the review of protocol involving human subjects in research. Documentation indicates that the cost of operating the review board and complying with additional federal regulations is a heavy financial burden. (Author/JMD)

Viewing Black individuals as nearly all the same or as merely further instances of a type rather than as individuals is a dangerous course and promotes ill-conceived and poor counseling strategy. Counselors must become involved in the human condition of those whom they seek to study. (Author)

One means of Web use evaluation is through analysis of server-generated log files. Various log file analysis techniques and issues are presented that are related to the interpretation of log file data. Study findings indicate a number of problems; recommendations and areas needing further research are outlined. (AEF)

Considers problems encountered in researching and writing historical geography (geography focused on some particular time or period in the past). Examines research topics and discusses the problems associated with making geographical interpretations from historical sources. Recommends a continuing dialog between historical and contemporary…