This article provides a reflexive account of the authors' experiences of the ethical challenges in conducting a higher degree by research (HDR) supervision project prompted by the ethics review process in a major Australian university. The authors also raise epistemological questions about the specific focus of the study, given the interrelations…

Threshold concepts were introduced nearly 10 years ago by Ray Land and Jan Meyer. This work has spawned four international conferences and hundreds of papers. Although the idea has clearly gained traction in higher education, this sub-field does not yet have a fully fledged research methodology or a strong critical discourse about methodology.…

James M. Fadool, an associate professor of biology at Florida State University, got a federal grant of more than $300,000 to study eye defects using zebra-fish. Some of that money went to pay another researcher, $1,536 biweekly, to assist with the research and manage the lab where the fish were kept. But an audit by the Office of Inspector General…

Accurate knowledge of the institution's past policies and composition considered within a broader state, regional, or national historical context can be an advantage in coping with complex institutional concerns. Implications for researchers are discussed. (Author/LBH)

A comparison of 142 public administration doctoral dissertations from 1981 with 165 from 1990 found that the latter showed substantial improvement in quality based on 6 criteria (purpose, design, theory testing, causation, important topic, and cutting edge). Little improvement was found in selection of topics. (SK)

A survey was sent to doctoral school psychologists to determine their research productivity and topical interests. Approximately two thirds of 147 respondents indicated doing some research during 1974-75. Studies dealing with topics of assessment and program evaluation were most prevalent. (Author)

This booklet contains the proceedings of a conference designed to elicit discussion, reactions, comments, and recommendations with respect to the value, desirability, significance, and budgetary problems involved in carrying out scientific research programs at comprehensive universities (those having either no Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) programs…

THIS EDUCATIONAL RESEARCH CONFERENCE FOCUSED ON (1) STIMULATING THE DEVELOPMENT OF NEW RESEARCH DIRECTIONS, DESIGNS, AND TECHNIQUES FOR 11 DIFFERENT FIELDS OF EDUCATION, (2) ASSESSING THE UTILIZATION OF RESEARCH SPONSORED BY THE COOPERATIVE RESEARCH PROGRAM (CRP) AND PARTICIPATION IN CRP, ESPECIALLY BY SMALL INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION, AND…

Numerous researchers have found that drug education programs produce little or no apparent change in students' attitudes. The present paper points out possible reasons for such findings. Suggestions are made for some methodological alternatives, and a study in which such methods were effectively used is discussed. (Author)

This paper reports on a two year investigation currently being conducted by the University of Washington into the "Assessment and Experiment With Management of Large-Scale Interdisciplinary Research Projects." The recruitment and resource issues, as common issues encounted in discussions of interdisciplinary research, are the focus of…

Examines the research participation system in college and university psychology departments. Students in an elementary psychology course were surveyed regarding their opinion of the educational value of participating in a psychology experiment. Nearly all subjects reported positive feelings about their participation. (DB)

This paper discusses the problems and benefits of conducting research in a small institution. Problems related to personnel, finances, expertise, and credibility, and advantages such as communication and cooperation are described. The University of Lethbridge has created a common data-gathering system, QAULTEP (Qualitative Analysis of the…

Discusses PRESTIGE, the project funded by the European Commission within its Training and Mobility Researchers program, describing the research design of the Oxford part of the project. Describes a comparative study of the implementation of the 'European Dimension' in education in England, Scotland, and Wales. Considers the methodological and…

In this paper, a panel of four new faculty discuss the challenges they have faced and the lessons they have learned in attempting to create a research agenda for themselves. To provide a point of reference, brief biographical sketches are provided of the panel members and the responder. The panelists' comments are provided on several principal…

Reviews the findings of the White House Science Council's survey of the condition of the United States university-research community. Indicates the problems that threaten the quality of academic research and outlines recommendations for its improvement. Funding changes, tax credits, and scholarships are among the panel's suggestions. (ML)