When students, parents, educators, and partners have the right information to make decisions, students excel. One of the most powerful sources of information for families, educators, and policymakers about education is the high-quality analysis and research conducted by trained and engaged experts across the country. Their work gives us answers…

Educational research occupies a pivotal position as educators move to meet growing social challenges. Educational change must be a logical outcome of systematic, controlled, empirical, and critical investigation. Improvement of research is dependent upon increased interaction of research specialists and vocational educators. Some major…

A critique of research objectives and funding patterns of the National Institute of Education, as well as recommendations for change, with special reference to the needs of minority groups and the Puerto Rican community. (EH)

It is suggested that the potential contributions research and development activities can make to the improvement of educational practice are far from fully realized for a variety of reasons. Researchers overlook problems teachers consider important, teachers are skeptical of proposals from external groups, and researchers and teachers lack a…

This document assesses the specific character of the research systems in the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, and Belgium in light of their institutional mechanisms and the way they function. The five articles presented concern international dimensions - national traditions and research policies; university research in a teaching oriented…

Two types of research, general theoretical and specific practical, are involved in the evaluation and improvement of university teaching. Not all faculty members can or will carry out general theoretical research, although they can benefit from its findings. However, all can and should carry out specific practical research on their own teaching.…

Educational policy research is discussed as it concerns the utilization and programming of research. Following a brief review of the development of the educational research system, Part 1 discusses the following utilization concerns: the gap between research and policymakers; the relationship of organizational setting to utilization (comparing…

In response to problems encountered by the National Advisory Council on Vocational Education, this report makes major sources of statistics and information in the field of vocational education more readily available to scholars and researchers. Twelve major information sources within the current vocational education area are reviewed, including…

Discusses the science education research agenda from the viewpoints of learning theorists, political and social scientists, counseling psychologists, cognition psychologists, and pedagogical researchers. Indicates that a broader perspective of these areas helps to link the research agenda to science teachers' questions/concerns, and to such areas…

The teaching profession's present notion of the ability of teachers to contribute to theory development in language education needs reexamination. University researchers can best foster this ability by encouraging and assisting teachers to become engaged in classroom research. On the basis of both published evidence and field data, it can be…

Articulates a fundamental rationale for the practice of qualitative research in music education. Argues that knowledge and experience are by definition subjective and constructed, thereby validating research methodologies that incorporate and acknowledge these realities. Identifies eight "processes" that offer productive research opportunities.…

Federal and state roles in higher education and possible actions and priorities for the federal government with regard to research are considered. Federal sponsorship of research is directed to better inform policy-makers who share responsibilities for the national interest in higher education. Attention is directed to the following concerns:…

These proceedings contain 58 papers. Selected brief titles are: "Teaching Reading in Advanced English to Adult Chinese Students" (Bao); "Analyzing the Training of Trainers and Adult Educators" (Boshier); "Knowledge Utilization in Social Work Practice" (Baskett); "Adult Education in the U.K." (Bright); "Developing Media Literacy in Adults"…

Notes that large-scale qualitative research projects tend to produce vast data pools from observation journals, interview transcripts, and other material that often is barely analyzed in the originating project. Argues that this material represents a valuable research resource. Includes six suggested rules for the use of older data. (MJP)