Discusses common beliefs and flaws in classroom research. Distinguishes among three kinds of empirical educational investigations. Suggests research designs which are considered to be sensible, selective, sound, sensitive, and simple. Describes designs using multiple classrooms for instructional-intervention experiments. (KS)

This report presents the problem and a solution to the treatment of students by age interactions. It considers the plight of an educational researcher who wishes to demonstrate that a particular treatment effect changes from age to age. In analysis of variance language, he is seeking a treatment by age interaction. The report presents a rationale…

The mnemonic keyword study of Johnson, Adams, and Bruning (1985) on effectiveness of the keyword method for second-language vocabulary acquisition is critiqued. Of particular concern are literature currency vis-a-vis the authors' stated rationale for conducting the study, and methodological issues associated with the study's implementation.…

Notes that research on academic retention programs for at-risk minority college students suffers from variety of methodological shortcomings. Identifies several problems in context of published retention-program studies, followed by corresponding solutions framed within call for nontraditional, alternative methodological and statistical strategies…