Investigates and suggests caution in use of retrospective reports as a source of information in the area of personality development. (NH)

Discusses whether action research has more potential in solving school policy problems than formal research. Determined that both types can and should be used in the educational decision-making process. (JOW)

The Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle, which concerns the effect of observation upon what is observed, is proper to the field of quantum physics, but has been mistakenly adopted and wrongly applied in the realm of naturalistic observation. Discusses the misuse of the principle in the current literature on naturalistic research. (DM)

With the increased popularity of qualitative research, researchers in counseling psychology are expanding their methodologies to include mixed methods designs. These designs involve the collection, analysis, and integration of quantitative and qualitative data in a single or multiphase study. This article presents an overview of mixed methods…

This article describes how despite the fact that a number of reading programs have satisfied the requirement under the federal reading law for embodying a strong research base, there appeared a limited outside evidence that any of them has produced a conclusive and consistent effect on overall reading achievement. The publishers of each of the…

Student retention is an important issue for all university administrators and faculty due to the potential negative impact of student attrition. In this study, retention rates will be studied with data from sophomore students who initially enrolled in the 2002 academic year at Arizona State University, following these students through their junior…

Evidence-based practice (EBP) is increasingly being advocated as the preferred approach to practice in augmentative and alternative communication (AAC). The EBP process involves multiple steps. The asking of a well-built question is the first step in the quest for answers. At the same time it is also often the first stumbling block for…

This commentary considers some of the challenges of applying mixed methods research in undergraduate research degrees, especially in professions with a clinical health focus. Our experience in physiotherapy academia is used as an example. Mixed methods research is increasingly appreciated in its own right as a "third paradigm," however the success…

The purpose of this study was to test the effectiveness of different types of instruction and texts on high schools students' learning of (a) history content and (b) a set of heuristics that historians use to think critically about texts. Participants for the study were 128 male and 118 female students, ages 16 and 17 years, from 2 high schools in…

With a focus on the use of technology when evaluating programs for Aboriginal people, this article explores the possibility of using visual and oral computer technology to enhance the incorporation of Aboriginal worldviews in program evaluation. The author situates Aboriginal worldviews, including methods of communication and transmission of…

Variable selection techniques in stepwise regression analysis are discussed. In stepwise regression, variables are added or deleted from a model in sequence to produce a final "good" or "best" predictive model. Stepwise computer programs are discussed and four different variable selection strategies are described. These…

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…

THE USEFULNESS OF PHONIC RULES IN READING INSTRUCTION BEYOND THE FOURTH-GRADE LEVEL WAS INVESTIGATED TO ASCERTAIN IF THE CONCLUSIONS REACHED BY THEODORE CLYMER AND REPORTED IN THE JANUARY 1963 ISSUE OF "THE READING TEACHER" WERE VALID WHEN APPLIED TO A MORE REPRESENTATIVE SAMPLE OF VOCABULARY. LISTS OF ALL POSSIBLE WORDS (FROM A SAMPLE…

THE WRITING OF SCHOOL-AGE CHILDREN WAS STUDIED TO DEVELOP MORE REVEALING PROCEDURES FOR STRUCTURAL ANALYSES OF GRAMMAR. THE WRITINGS OF 54 BOYS AND GIRLS FROM GRADES 4, 8, AND 12 WERE SELECTED AND ANALYZED BY GRADUATE STUDENTS AND THE PROJECT INVESTIGATOR. THE SENTENCE STRUCTURES WERE ANALYZED BY TRANSFORMATIONAL METHODS, WITH EVALUATION MADE ON…