The central roles of science in the field of remedial and special education are to (a) identify basic laws of nature and (b) apply those laws in the design of practices that achieve socially valued outcomes. The scientific process is designed to allow demonstration of specific (typically positive) outcomes, and to assist in the attribution of…

To counteract what we see as a growing research-reporting concern, we propose the following editorial-policy change regarding the content of primary research articles in educational research journals: Contributors should restrict their discussion and conclusions to their data and not offer recommendations for educational practice nor speculate…

Two previous studies examining 5 empirical educational psychology research journals (Hsieh et al., 2005; Robinson, Levin, Thomas, Pituch, & Vaughn, 2007) found that in the 21-year period from 1983 to 2004, there was a decrease in intervention and randomized experimental research, whereas in the 10-year period from 1994 to 2004, there was an…

In recent years, single-case designs have increasingly been used to establish an empirical basis for evidence-based interventions and techniques in a variety of disciplines, including psychology and education. Although traditional single-case designs have typically not met the criteria for a randomized controlled trial relative to conventional…

A statistical framework is suggested for comparing a single partition of an object set to a second partition posited a priori or possibly to a more general proximity matrix. (Author/RM)

Supports a two-step approach to the estimation and discussion of effect sizes, making a distinction between single-study decision-oriented research and multiple-study synthesis. Introduces and illustrates the concept of "conclusion coherence." (Author/SLD)

Using Atkinson's Keyword Method--an imagery mnemonic for vocabulary learning--as a vehicle, this paper argues that even the most well-reasoned and explainable psychological outcomes need to be validated empirically. The paper provides 12 examples of applications of the keyword method in which an eminently reasonable cognitive outcome was…

In a recently reported study, the functional components of imagery and vocalization strategies in children's verbal discrimination learning were examined, following the combined experimental/correlational logic of Underwood. The present research extends those results to a strategy that (unlike imagery and vocalization) has a positive influence on…

Praises the "Procedural and Coding Manual for Review of Evidence-Based Interventions" for its initial conceptualization and is then questioned with respect to its specific operational features and ultimate purposes. An illustration of the study-coding process is examined in the company of critical concerns that must be addressed before…

Outlines concerns that must be addressed by those who advocate replacing statistical hypothesis-testing with alternative data-analysis strategies. Suggests that commonly recommended alternatives are not perfect and that various hypothesis-testing modifications can be implemented to make the process and its conclusions more credible. Hypothesis…

Discusses common beliefs and flaws in classroom research. Distinguishes among three kinds of empirical educational investigations. Suggests research designs which are considered to be sensible, selective, sound, sensitive, and simple. Describes designs using multiple classrooms for instructional-intervention experiments. (KS)

Presents a general class of single-case statistical procedures derived from previously developed nonparametric randomization tests. Designs are illustrated that focus on the general and comparative effectiveness of alternative interventions, multiple units with differentiable characteristics, and multiple outcome measures. Provides operational…

This report presents the problem and a solution to the treatment of students by age interactions. It considers the plight of an educational researcher who wishes to demonstrate that a particular treatment effect changes from age to age. In analysis of variance language, he is seeking a treatment by age interaction. The report presents a rationale…

The mnemonic keyword study of Johnson, Adams, and Bruning (1985) on effectiveness of the keyword method for second-language vocabulary acquisition is critiqued. Of particular concern are literature currency vis-a-vis the authors' stated rationale for conducting the study, and methodological issues associated with the study's implementation.…

Notes that research on academic retention programs for at-risk minority college students suffers from variety of methodological shortcomings. Identifies several problems in context of published retention-program studies, followed by corresponding solutions framed within call for nontraditional, alternative methodological and statistical strategies…