Debates the value of experimentation as a tool in educational research. (MK)

In the educational research literature, alpha and p are often conflated. Paradoxically, alpha retains a prominent place in textbook discussions, but it is often supplanted by p in the results sections of journal articles. Because alpha and p have unique uses, researchers should continue to employ both conventions in summarizing the outcomes of…

Discusses the role of research methodology as disciplined inquiry in educational research. Uses examples to address issues of generalizability of results, precision, and choice of research methods. (MK)

Child abuse research has provided information on psychological sequelae of sexual molestation, with findings helpful in informing social policy and guiding mental health practice. Because of recency of interest, costs, and time investment associated with more rigorous longitudinal research, many studies have used correlational designs and…

Notes the inconsistent findings that characterize research on marital instability and proposes several potential methodological sources of these inconsistencies. Presents an illustrative application to data from two recent national representative probability samples. (JAC)

Contends that qualitative research methods may improve understanding of individual students and groups of students. Discusses key questions in determining appropriateness of qualitative methods for research, evaluations, and policy analysis. Recommends that student affairs professionals consider using qualitative methods in their study of students…

Looks at some of the core perspectives in teacher research, situates the movement in a wider context, and examines some of its explicit or implicit premises along with typical methodologies. Discusses the opportunities of teacher research; the craft-artistry perspective; communities of exchange, support, and inquiry; and warrants for knowledge in…

Based on a session at a recent National Reading Conference meeting in which researchers shared the dilemmas they faced and the strategies they developed for coping with the complexity of new forms of research, this paper examines some of the ethical dimensions of collaborative research. Following a discussion of the trade-offs in collaborative…

Discusses current practices for statistical assessments of employment discrimination and suggests nonstatistical techniques that can be used to aid in interpreting results of statistical analyses. The techniques incorporate principles of Boolean algebra and allow holistic comparison of categories of similarly situated individuals. (CMG)

Based on data from two experiments, this article attempts to assess degree to which people differ in interpretations of questions referring to library services and the implications for interpreting survey results. Sources of error in questionnaire research--sampling, response (question interpretation, response decision, category choices)--are…

Presents concepts of life course, life cycle, life structure, and the adult development of the life structure in early and middle adulthood. Discusses six major issues that must be dealt with by every structural approach to adult development. (PS)

Discusses research strategy and data collection methods in field studies of unapprehended illegal immigrants living in the United States and suggests ways to increase the reliability and validity of interview responses. Also provides a bibliography of recent field studies of undocumented immigrants. (Author/GC)

Shared-work compensation (SWC) can provide a method whereby layoffs and unemployment may be avoided by reducing all workers' time. As compensation, workers receive a comparable percentage of their unemployment insurance benefits. Although Western European countries have used work-sharing programs and Canada has implemented an experimental SWC…

Examines the credibility of inferences based on cross-group comparisons of regression coefficients using Black-White differences in the educational attainment process as an example. Shows that reanalyses of data from previous studies fail to produce consistent results even when major differences in samples, models, and methods are held constant.…

Suggests ways that drug use/abuse might be associated with felony crime and discusses discrepancies of investigations into drug use/abuse and crime. Asserts that there is insufficient evidence to establish differential effects of specific substances that produce biochemical effects on acceleration of particular types of felony crime. (Author/PVV)