My research is rooted in improving K-12 educational practice using motivational facets made possible through adaptive tutoring systems. In an attempt to isolate best practices within the science of learning, I conduct randomized controlled trials within ASSISTments, an online adaptive tutoring system that provides assistance and assessment to…

In this paper the role of qualitative research in special education is examined. The implications of an earlier naturalistic study are cited, an important one being the tendency in the literature to oversimplify the naturalistic paradigm; and the case is made that implementing such a paradigm is a "labor intensive" approach to research…

This paper describes the design of a major development and research project within the Teaching and Learning Research Programme in the United Kingdom. It outlines the project's aims to enhance teaching and learning in schools through innovative practice at classroom and school level and through networking. It describes the assumptions and…

One of the goals of the Strategies and Models for Improved Learning through Effective Data Use (SMILE) project was to develop a data-capacity survey (DCS) to measure a schools capacity to use data. In this study, a DCS was developed and field tested. The DCS, which was field tested at six Milwaukee Public Schools (Wisconsin), was a pen-and-paper…

Investigators interested in conducting school health research face many challenges. This article focuses on an analysis of research designs and measurement issues that most frequently confront school health researchers. (Author/DF)

Develops a way to conceptualize the complementarity of quantitative and qualitative research in science education, demonstrating through analysis of examples that qualitative and quantitative research reports follow the same pattern of argument, although the metaphysical roots behind their methodologies are obviously different. (Author/SK)

The paper reviews the state of the art in evaluation research of direct instruction projects with handicapped students. The first section delineates research designs used (including norm referenced comparisons, nonequivalent comparison groups, and quasi experimental designs); major findings; and problems with each. A distinction is made between…

A research design is described for the situation in which a program, particularly a compensatory education program funded by Chapter 1 of the Hawkins Stafford Act of 1988, can be evaluated when there is no available comparison group and no pretest data. The design requires content specialists to identify which objectives on the posttest were…

Some 1000 questions in education journals were analyzed for aspects of usage and content, linguistic structure, cognitive process, and logical operation. Only half of the studies examined were found to use questions, and only a third of the questions addressed teaching and learning, curriculum and milieu. The great majority of questions entailed a…

The Centre for Principal Development at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education is a new organization devoted to research and professional development. This paper describes the framework for the center's research program and reviews research reported since 1985 that is relevant to each of the components. The review serves two purposes: (1)…

A course was prepared by Planned Parenthood on the subject of human sexuality. The school district required an evaluation to determine effects, assess whether the instructional agency should be invited back, and to determine whether experiences should be continued. An action research approach was deemed appropriate. The objectives of the research…

By employing meta-analysis procedures to build on the reviews of Horwitz and Peterson, specific effects of open education are quantified and related to school and student characteristics. From the 45 studies located in ERIC, the Education Index, and Horwitz's monograph, student, setting, and research design characteristics were coded. Twenty-three…

The paper explains the design of a national survey which was intended to identify factors associated with variations in the properties and contents of individualized education programs (IEPs); provide descriptive information about the target population; the nature and setting in which special education services are provided to this population;…

This paper describes the strategies used by the Research Department chief of the Cleveland (Ohio) Public Schools to restructure a department beset with staff cuts, district reorganization, and a demoralized staff. The reform movement for accountability is challenging school district research departments to provide timely, meaningful, objective…

Polling and comparing the perceptions of principals, office staff, and teachers, the author focuses on the design of his study, which was intended to evaluate behaviors and competencies considered vital to school principals and to cite areas for professional development. Such professional development needs, sought by the large midwestern school…