Although organized physical education is vital to Americans' health and well-being, surprisingly few policy studies exist for the field. Physical education professionals desperately need evaluation studies to assist them in setting policies and examining policy implementation and outcomes. This paper reviews available literature, identifies…

Provides a synthesis and a critique of Kulik and Kulik's metasynthesis and Slavin's best-evidence syntheses regarding ability grouping for gifted students. Although both studies address important issues, concerns such as teacher and parent attitudes to grouping and use of gifted students as role models are ignored. Includes 22 references. (MLH)

Reviews research on clarity, organization, and pace of presentation in social studies. Provides practical suggestions on how teachers can control each of these factors. Maintains that those who have mastered these techniques contribute much to the successful learning of their students. (JDH)

Discusses characteristic approaches that girls and women bring to learning and scientific inquiry. Describes strategies for teaching girls in classrooms including connecting mathematics, science, and technology to the real world; teacher and student developed metaphors; fostering an atmosphere of true collaboration; encouraging girls to act as…

This book provides a simple but effective model for approaching action research. It also contains a series of tools to assist the researcher in working through the research process. The chapters are: (1) "Research in Professional and Public Life"; (2) "Principles of Community-Based Action Research"; (3) "Setting the Stage"; (4) "Look: Building the…

Examined is Dr. Jean Clandinin and F. Michael Connelly's research on teacher's "personal practical knowledge" and its impact and influence upon teachers' perceptions of themselves and their work. (40 references) (SI)

Streamlining involves the modification of cost-analysis methods to make them more appropriate for the limited time and resources, and immediate information needs, of local-level program evaluations. It can also enhance the reliability and validity of district-level studies. A review of existing texts of cost analysis and of studies of traditional…

The purpose of this research was to develop, test, and demonstrate a systematic methodology of triangulation. Triangulation is a technique used to establish credibility of data gathered in qualitative ways. Triangulated conclusions are more stable than any of the individual vantage points from which they were triangulated. Using a previous study…

Author discusses the importance of vocalization in the development of basic musicianship. He cites studies demonstrating that vocal teaching strategies, such as singing tonal patterns, aids music reading, memory, and instrumental performance. (SJL)

Empirical research concerning the selection of school administrators was reviewed. The methodology of the review, the methods by which principals are typically selected, and empirical research on the validity of selection techniques are described. Data from 138 studies with managerial and professional samples were analyzed. (TJH)

This book presents 5 working papers which were produced in the course of a study undertaken in 1991 to obtain information on how the 92 universities, polytechnics and colleges in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland which offer initial teacher training courses prepare students to teach reading in primary and secondary schools. The five papers are:…

The Comprehensive School Reform Demonstration (CSRD) network forums were convened by McREL to share CSRD implementation strategies, discuss issues relative to technical assistance needs and CSRD model implementation support, and strengthen communication and collaborative links between the SEAs and regional providers for coordinated service…

The purpose of this paper is to examine critically the research to determine the lecture method's strengths, weaknesses, and uses; and to explore possible ways of improving it by altering the lecture itself and by combining it with other modes of instruction. (Author/SJL)

Seven features of valid classroom observations procedures, a five-step measurement schemata, and a systematic classroom observation procedure designed to reduce measurement error are presented. The following features are addressed: (1) the inference of the observation is established a priori and confirmed post hoc; (2) craft knowledge and…

The status of school finance research and priority tasks to be undertaken in the next round of research are outlined. Both substantive and methodological issues are addressed. Finance-reform relations, methods addressing equity in funding distribution, and neglected areas of study are covered. (TJH)