Presents a theoretical discussion of evaluation research and the need for gathering data to support the decision-making process concerned with training program performance. Guidelines for conducting evaluation research are discussed, the participants involved with successful implementation are described, and data gathering methods are explained.…

Evaluated effectiveness of 16-week intervention for 52 second- and third-grade children of divorce. Participants were compared with 52 divorce controls and 81 children from intact families on child, parent, and teacher measures of adjustment. Experimental group improved significantly more than nonprogram groups from multiple perspectives,…

The study compared the effectiveness of sensory integrative therapy with a parallel physical education program or a no-treatment condition with 55 5- to 10-year-old learning or perceptually motor disabled children. Results indicated no significant differences among groups except that reading progress of children already able to read was improved…

Reviews the literature on effective in-service teacher education. Discusses attributes of effective staff development, the need for comprehensive collaborative planning, reasons why staff development activities fail to affect classroom practices, and effective evaluation of staff development programs. Contains 21 references. (SV)

The study examined changes in attitudes of nine non-handicapped (NH) six- and seven-year-olds toward peers with severe learning difficulties (SLD) after experience of structured integration sessions over one school year. The NH children had generally maintained their positive attitudes though attitudes toward classmates thought to be "not very…

Reports on Japanese science education from observations made of one school and one teacher. Compares the school to an American suburban "prep" high school with well-disciplined students. States that the reason students learn is because the Japanese consider education to be extremely important. (RT)

Compared 7th and 10th graders participating in social resistance or attitudinal alcohol prevention programs to controls. For 10th-graders, no outcome difference between interventions was found; at one-year follow-up, intervention subjects used less alcohol than controls. Seventh graders showed no usage effects of interventions two years…

Examines programs in Montreal, Canada, that offer microcomputing training--traditional private courses as well as an experimental, neighborhood-oriented "popular laboratory." Finds that both are used by men to advance their careers but that women use them to catch up and survive economically in a transformed workplace. (SR)

Review of claims for the effectiveness of the gentle teaching philosophy with people having severe problem behaviors and mental retardation finds that the methods were unsuccessful with seven of nine individuals. Although more research is needed, the review suggests that gentle teaching cannot be considered an ethically defensible treatment…

Notes that the 19th-century problem of street children parallels contemporary problems of homelessness, youth gangs, and violence. Suggests that past and present programs developed to deal with these problems have many similarities and that understanding the origins of both the problems and the child welfare response is crucial to avoiding past…

Describes efforts of Florence-Darlington Technical College (South Carolina) to improve academic programs through the development and implementation of computer-assisted instruction (CAI). Includes results from a study investigating four variables of student performance in CAI and traditional lecture sections for five courses. Reports mixed results…

This study examined the effectiveness of a Positive Talk curriculum in promoting specific conversational social skills of nine incarcerated female adolescent juvenile delinquents. Sequential application of a multiple baseline across groups design demonstrated that the training was successful in promoting the participants' social skills.…

Describes the implementation of outcomes accreditation at East Middle School, in Aurora, Colorado. Reports significant gains in student success, including a 68% decline in student tardiness and a 60% decrease in suspensions. Indicates that the school was selected as a state Governor's Challenger School. (MAB)

Examined the relationship between parent participation in a school-based drug and alcohol abuse prevention program for adolescents and adolescent drug use. Results of an 18-month follow-up survey found that parent participation in the program was negatively associated with adolescent use of alcohol and cigarettes. (MDM)

Presents the quality-focused management (QFM) system and explains the departure QFM makes from established community college management practices. Describes the system's self-directed teams engaged in a continuous improvement process driven by customer demand and long-term commitment to quality and cost control. (13 references.) (MAB)