Over the past few years, the focus group method has assumed a very important role as a method for collecting qualitative data in social and behavioural science research. This article elucidates theoretical and practical problems and prospects associated with the use of focus groups as a qualitative research method in social and behavioural science…

The author cites examples of exploitation of the Black Community by researchers and proposes strategies for its elimination. (RWP)

Problems in conducting research with public offenders include lack of: a systematic body of knowledge, avenues of dissemination of information, a data base describing the situation, and communication between researchers and criminal justice staff members. Ethical concerns need to be dealt with. (Author)

Reports the University of New York at Albany has been charged with violations of federal and state regulations for not obtaining approval of an ethics committee to conduct research on human subjects. (SL)

The appendix contains papers, reports, and other materials that were reviewed by the National Commission for the Protection of Human Subjects of Biomedical and Behavioral Research during its deliberations on research involving children. Entries include the following titles and authors: "Research Involving Children" (Survey Research Center); "Law…

This is a discussion of the new American Psychological Association guideline to "Ethical Principles in the Conduct of Research with Human Participants" (1973) as applied to the study of natural groups in both the field and laboratory. Presented is a resume of some of the problems and solutions as they were encountered and resolved. Among the…

Providing more information about experimental studies than required under the ethical principles formulated by the American Psychological Association can result in data bias on a specific task; overall, however, the implementation of ethical principles has little effect on data collected in classroom settings. (RL)

In this overview of his research in personality theory, Cattell describes the play of people, situations, and, ideas enacted over 30 years in his University of Illinois laboratory. Establishing meaningful empirical measurement methods was the foundation for further research into many aspects of personality development. (BS)