The "Manual on Scientific Communication for Postgraduate Students and Young Researchers in Technical, Natural, and Life Sciences" is meant to be a practical guide for the preparation of theses, papers, posters, and other scientific documents. Upon going through the different chapters, the readers should be able to critically search for…

The National Science Foundation funded a synthesis study on the status, contributions, and future direction of discipline-based education research (DBER) in physics, biological sciences, geosciences, and chemistry. DBER combines knowledge of teaching and learning with deep knowledge of discipline-specific science content. It describes the…

Since 1984, the National Research Foundation (NRF) in South Africa has evaluated and rated researchers, using peer review of the recent research outputs and impact of each applicant's work. This article reports on an investigation into the evolution of the research careers of Y-rated researchers (young researchers with potential) in the natural…

The article studies the differences in knowledge production between academic researchers. In this perspective, it attempts at first to answer the following question: what factors explain differences in knowledge production between Canadian researchers in natural sciences and engineering? After a presentation of some of the empirical evidence…

Phenomenology, hermeneutics and experiential psychology form the backbone of an emerging paradigm within psychology known as human science. Human science's use of phenomenology provides a way to set aside the naturalistic presupposition and directly study the irreducible involvement of human existence within a meaningful world, as it is given in…

This paper describes ways in which the principle of enhanced sustainability might become a point of reference in social science research, considered as a dimension of all social and economic behavior. Discusses some of the lessons learned from the Global Environmental Change program and considers the relationship between this work and…

Practitioners of applied behavior analysis need to create a model for developing and evaluating behavioral technology consistent with the approach of other natural sciences. The model should focus on developing an experimental literature that is comprehensive in both its attempt to understand target behaviors and its search for the how and why of…

An emerging postpositivist paradigm for inquiry and research is outlined, based on recent thinking in philosophy, the natural sciences, and the social sciences. The paper delineates the paradigm's basic beliefs, considers methodological implications, and suggests applications in the education of the gifted. (Author/JDD)

Discusses incorporating the dynamics of complex systems, as presented in the theory of dissipative structures, into models of evolving social systems. Considers the importance of instability and minor and random events and the limits of forecasting, generalization, and control. Concludes that the nonlinear paradigm represents a link between…

A nature center is defined as an organized and permanent nonprofit institution which is essentially educational, scientific, and cultural in purpose with professional staff, and open to the public on some regular schedule. A nature center manages and interprets its lands, native plants and animals and facilities to promote an understanding of…

In this paper, Finnish special education research is analysed. The material for this review consists of all academic theses published between the years 1951 and 1999. Doctoral theses can be considered as one type of official product of normal science, since they undergo rather stringent internal scientific evaluation. An attempt is made to…

Discussed are the differences between the natural and social science disciplines and the importance of an interdisciplinary approach by the two groups on the subject of science-technology-society (STS). Included is a list of topics that all educated people should know about STS. (KR)

The Roger Tory Peterson Institute is concerned with creating experiences in which children face the mysteries and wonders of the natural world and understand their connection with nature. The purpose of the forum was to support the growth of these experiences and the people who create them. The forum covered three broad topics: (1) visions for the…

Several television markets were surveyed and compared with each other and with 1973 data to determine whether natural history programing has declined. Results showed an increase in the percentage of total air time and of prime time broadcasts devoted to natural history programing exclusive of cable and pay television. (CW)

Relationships between interest in natural sciences and technology and perceived ability, success, and invested effort were studied in Swedish secondary school students. Interests were accounted for by logical orientation and practical value. Interests and grades were strongly correlated, but correlations between interests and effort and vocational…