Issues that arose in attempting to survey people with Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) are described. Questions of confidentiality, nonimplementation, and slow accrual of information are considered for an initial sample of 2,731 cases. Comparison with a database concerning 1,313 clinic clients indicates overrepresentation of compliant…

Provides an overview of research on the effectiveness of microcomputer applications with at-risk students and suggests that many findings in the literature are questionable because of flaws in research methodology. Issues relating to measurement, learning environment, computer utilization, gender, and socioeconomic status are addressed, and…

Results with 54 African-American and 63 white kindergarten through second grade students (66 males and 51 females) do not support earlier studies' findings that African Americans and whites negative-value dark and positive-value white skin colors. Previous results may relate more to the forced-choice methodologies used than in the children's…

This overview of the research process for the novice information retrieval (IR) researcher provides guidance on selecting a research question, choosing the type of test, defining variables, developing or using databases, finding and processing queries, assigning treatments to experimental units, collecting and analyzing the data, and presenting…

Asserts that educational policymakers must measure student achievement and school system performance accurately to help provide skills demanded by society. Contends that many international surveys either fail to provide adequate and precise answers to the intended research questions or provide inaccurate and faulty results. (CFR)

Primary research on student ratings of instruction is reviewed, and questions about the validity of such ratings as measures of teacher effectiveness are explored using nomological coding of 43 validity studies to examine causes of variability in coefficients of validity. Deficiencies of prior analyses and research needs are identified. (SLD)

Quantitative research on feedback that college teachers receive from student ratings is methodologically critiqued. The critique is based on a recently completed review and statistical study of 28 related studies by R. L'Hommedieu, R. J. Menges, and K. T. Brinko. Feedback effects may be stronger than research indicates. (SLD)

This commentary on EC 605 442, which indicated long-term gains for children with autism who experienced intensive behavioral intervention as preschoolers, emphasizes the need for replication. The replication study should use random assignment to experimental and control groups, a larger sample of cases, standard diagnostic instruments to delineate…

Articles in this special issue deal with the assessment of the impact of research and are divided into segments concerning semiquantitative approaches; qualitative approaches; and quantitative and fiscal approaches. These articles illustrate the importance of the role of motivation and associated incentives. (SLD)

Describes a field study in which the researcher developed a feminist materialist alternative to the subject object dualism in ethnography; critiques the discourse of naturalistic ethnography and presents various political and ethical implications for forms of feminist and critical theory and praxis. (GLR)

Addresses pitfalls in using the Internet for undergraduate research, including: increased ability to commit plagiarism and academic fraud; difficulties sorting valid, useful information from inaccurate or misleading sources; difficulties searching the Internet; growing confusion between reality and virtual reality; and lack of context for much…

Examined effects of early parental employment on children, using data from National Longitudinal Survey of Youth. Found that more work hours were associated with slightly lower cognitive development through age 9 and lower academic achievement before age 7, but not with behavior problems, compliance, or self-esteem. Early parental employment was…

Comments on a study that reported positive effects of a neurobehavioral-intervention approach on motor skills of young children with cerebral palsy. Discusses problems associated with contrived research situations and urges researchers and practitioners to join together to design and investigate the effects of new interventions. (CR)

Introduces a special issue that focuses on teachers and other practitioners undertaking research on their professional praxis. Discusses some experiences as a teacher-researcher, outlines the studies presented in the special issue, and considers questions of voice in the presentation of teacher-researcher studies. Contains 25 references. (WRM)

Research, while limited, finds that service learning positively affects participants as to social development, academic achievement, civic awareness, and career exploration. High-quality programs maximize student outcomes. The difference between service learning and community service is linkage to standards and specific curriculum content. Key…