Examines a number of facets of adoption in the United States and recommends that the federal government create an adoption data collection system; states implement a uniform adoption law; and the adoption process be more open, both for adoptees and prospective adoptive parents. Also discusses the adoption of children with special needs, and…

The second of three articles on abusive data collection and usage practices and their effect on personal privacy, discusses the evolution of data protection laws worldwide, and compares the scope, major provisions, and enforcement components of the laws. A chronology of key events in the regulation of computer databanks in included. (1 reference)…

Though hidden from view by being considered "non-existent", the meager evidence indicates that Hispanics have an unusually high arrest and incarceration rate. Hispanic background is rarely asked on the six major sources of criminal justice statistics--statistics of arrests, courts, prisoners, juvenile delinquency, crime victimization, and public…

Discusses the development of multiobject databases called large data constructs (LDC), which may contain images and recorded or synthesized voice as well as text. Virtual reality and cyberspace are discussed, selectivity and database content are examined, database management systems are described, and retrieval options are reviewed. (three…

Discusses methodological issues concerning qualitative research and describes research practices that qualitative researchers use to address these methodological issues. Topics discussed include the researcher as interpreter, the emergent nature of qualitative research, understanding the experience of others, trustworthiness in qualitative…

The effective communication of desired information between the generator and the user requires one to accommodate variances in decision-making style, behavior, and context. The premise that decision making in organizations follows the classic rational model is discussed. (Author/MLW)

Reviews literature on resource allocation in schools, arguing that collecting data at the student level (rather than at the school level) can be more cost-effective and more useful in improving understanding of student learning. Discusses four school finance areas that would benefit from student-level data: equity, adequacy, accountability, and…

Strengths and weaknesses of prevailing evaluation models are analyzed, with attention to the role of feedback in each paradigm. A framework is then presented for analyzing issues faced by evaluators of interactive instructional technologies. The current practice of evaluation relies heavily on 3 models developed over 20 years ago: (1) the…

Many evaluation researchers are now attempting to synthesize quantitative and qualitative approaches. Although such efforts appear to carry great promise, some subtleties and incompatibilities of these approaches are perhaps being overlooked. Implications for social inquiry are discussed. (Author/GDC)

In addition to assessing observed communication behaviors, this paper suggests that SYMLOG--a System for the Multiple Level Observation of Groups--can be used by participant-observers as a foil for interpreting how their own value orientations affect their data collecting and theorizing. The first section of the paper examines the research role…

If language research is to arrive at valid analyses of speech behavior, both observation and elicitation methods of data collection will have to be used as necessary complements to one another. The advantages and disadvantages of different research methods are discussed. (CB)

Various aspects of the institutional evaluation process are discussed including: pitfalls to avoid, choice of indicators, audience, accountability, futures research, technological change, program termination, data sources, longitudinal data, political aspects, advertising, marketing, and internal v external evaluators. (Author/SF)

Argues that, since at least 1969, the Census Bureau, under pressure from political special interest groups, has misrepresented the "racial" character of the U.S. population and has misplaced 6 to 8 million persons of Native American ancestry into a scientifically useless "Hispanic/Spanish" category. Contains approximately 45…

Focuses on rape prevalence research and examines the relationship between measurement methods and levels of rape detection. Weighs the relative threat to the validity of prevalence estimates posed by fabrication versus nondisclosure. Examines various methodological choices and their relationship to the magnitude of prevalence estimates. (JPS)

The application of the four basic principles of social ecology as a framework for assessing inner city black communities is the focus of this paper. Social ecology is described as a concept that includes variables from both the social and physical environments. Its four basic principles are said to be recognition of the interdependence of roles…