Conducting and publishing rigorous empirical research based on original data is essential for advancing and sustaining high-quality counseling practice. The purpose of this article is to provide a one-stop-shop for writing a rigorous quantitative Methods section in counseling and related fields. The importance of judiciously planning,…

This article is developed from the contents from one of the chapters the researcher has written as part of her PhD thesis. It discusses various methodological challenges the researcher had to face during the phase of data collection in the prisons of Kerala, India, and the strategies adopted to overcome these challenges. This article is intended…

This chapter provides a guide to research logistics and ethics in studying immigrant families. The authors outline major pragmatic issues in research design and data collection to which all scholars must attend, although current practices often do not respond to the idiosyncratic issues related to vulnerable immigrant populations (e.g.,…

The Conference on College Composition and Communication (CCCC) represents teachers and researchers of composition and communication in all possible genres, media, contexts, and exigencies; for the purpose of these guidelines, "writers" and "writing" will be all-encompassing, and the term "researcher" will refer to…

The High School Longitudinal Study of 2009 (HSLS:09) is the fifth in a series of National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) secondary longitudinal studies. The core research questions for HSLS:09 explore secondary to postsecondary transition plans and the evolution of those plans; the paths into and out of science, technology, engineering,…

Describes focus group application in student affairs assessment and offers suggestions on conducting groups and using results. Concludes that focus groups can overcome limitations of quantitative designs, such as limited scope of response or profiles of "average" persons who do not really exist; be used to help design or supplement quantitative…

The purpose of this project was to research and develop two design guides on environments important to child development: child care facilities and outdoor play areas, and to specify new, research-based criteria for the planning and design of these facilities for military bases around the world. The current paper is a synopsis of parts of this…

The promise charter schools hold for public school innovation and reform lies in an unprecedented combination of freedom and accountability. Underwritten with public funds but run independently, charter schools are free from a range of state laws and district policies stipulating what and how they teach, where they can spend their money, and who…

Discusses ways a high school newspaper adviser can help staff members conduct a student sex survey in a thorough and responsible manner; notes potential problems in conducting and publishing results of such a survey. (GT)

Describes search strategies and vocabulary selection for researching information on Native Americans using DIALOG databases as examples. Highlights include tribal names search strategy; examples of false drops; revised search strategies for full-text databases; Internet sources, including various software systems; and CD-ROM products about Native…

This book is for teachers and teaching assistants (TAs) seeking to improve the ways that they work together to meet the needs of children in their classes. The number of teaching assistants (including learning support assistants who support children with special educational needs) has expanded greatly in recent years, a trend which is set to…

This paper describes procedures that resulted in a 90 percent return in a random sample survey of inner-city youth. Included are: selection of interview sites; recordkeeping; call-backs; techniques for dealing with reluctant interviewees; and composition of interview teams, including sex and ethnic matching with sample members. (SJL)

Presents general systems models (ballistic system, guided system, and adaptive system) and an evaluation matrix to help in examining training evaluation alternatives and in deciding what evaluation is appropriate. Includes some guidelines for conducting evaluation studies using four designs (control group, reversal, multiple baseline, and…

The proceedings of the 1979 Lifelong Learning Research Conference held at the University of Maryland are reported in this document. Focusing upon non-formal adult education, the papers presented deal with environmental/leisure education issues, adult/continuing education concerns, community development, international education, volunteerism, and…

The User's Guide to the Regional Study of Higher Education in Agriculture and Home Economics in the South explains the purpose and organization of the study, one of three phases of a larger investigation being conducted by collaborating researchers in several Agricultural Experiment Stations. The guide provides a detailed description of the…