The purposes of this paper are to note specific weaknesses characterizing small group research and to propose suggestions for their solution. Adapted from a speech given at the Second National Conference about the Teaching of Group: Theory and Practice, Temple University, Philadelphia, February 1976. (Author)

R. Zubir and M. Pope (1984) and K. Howe (1985, 1988) have argued against the "tyranny of methodological dogma" and that the division between quantitative psychometric and qualitative phenomenological and anthropological traditions is unnecessary. The postmodern self-consciousness of educational research has resulted in the realization that there…

Barriers to evaluation of prevention programs arise from (1) attitudes that people have about such programs; (2) conceptual difficulties (lack of theory, difficulty in choosing criteria of success, lack of control over implementation strategies); and (3) methodological difficulties (monitoring program integrity over time, measuring program…

Offers and discusses five guidelines to use when solving design problems: (1) evolve from simple to complex; (2) use depth-first approach; (3) develop approximate criteria; (4) use "top down/bottom up" designs alternately; and (5) make optimistic assumptions. Four examples illustrate the guidelines. (JN)

This paper presents a theoretical scheme and research methodology for studying marital interaction among elderly couples. The derivation of the conceptual scheme from the perspective of symbolic interaction, and the specific concepts used in the conceptual model, i.e., the social act, role taking, agreement on frame of reference, and confidence or…

This document discusses the creation of a new formal language for the field of counseling psychology. Constructs for such a language are applied specifically to the communication of research information (especially research concerned with the effects of counselor action on clients) for experimental replication. Grammatical concepts of a formal…

Over the years, research and evaluation practices have influenced and been influenced by intervention procedures in the school system and classroom. This document discusses the historical influences of research and evaluation on interventions in schools conducted in the past, and outlines important trends, issues, and suggested practices for…

Describes limitations of the psychological view that has dominated obesity research. The "brand" of psychology represented is assessed on its conceptual strengths, its implications for intervention program development, and its consequences for the delivery of services to people in communities. Suggests use of a human development model.…

Without support, financial, organizational and otherwise, the U.S. national IEA writing study would never have been conducted; however, implementation of the study was difficult. Planning for the study and its support commenced in 1980, coterminous with two important occurrences: the National Institute of Education pulled back on its interest in…

This paper explores the value of collaborative research models in counselor training research. The focus is on a model that encourages interinstitutional collaborative research efforts, in which colleagues are brought together without a detailed purpose to generate and share research ideas. Several fundamental components of an effective…

If research on personality is to be productive and progressive, it is necessary to make objectives explicit and to link abstractions with common experiences. Six levels of classification outline these objectives. Level 1 involves the characterization and classification of persons. Level 2 studies attributes. Level 3 is concerned with inferred…

Examines five dilemmas in postsecondary organizational theory and research, in the areas of theory development, research methods, organizational behavior context, relating theory to practice, and identifying professional colleagues. Calls for the establishment of a "peer group" to consider these issues and to ensure the continued,…

Provides an overview of the area of quantitative research in chemical education, which involves the same components that comprise chemical research: (1) a question or hypothesis; (2) research design; (3) data collection and analysis; and (4) interpretation of results. Includes questions of interest to chemical educators; areas of quantitative…

This paper presents a discussion of the importance of voluntary childlessness as a contemporary social phenomenon. The negative attitudes associated with voluntary childlessness are discussed in a brief summary of recent literature. An exploration of the methodological limitations of existing research is included which emphasizes its usefulness…

The growing popularity of focus group measurements can be traced to any one of four factors: (1) the economics associated with focus groups; (2) the speed at which data can now be collected; (3) the need to understand customer motivations; and (4) the desire to improve subsequent qualitative research activities and programs. Market researchers are…