Comments on the other papers in this theme issue and presents a speculative account of inspection time (IT). IT is viewed as an index of core information-processing ability that has a causal influence on the development of complex intellectual skills. (Author/SLD)

Comments on the papers of this theme issue, which are concerned with the impact of verbal and nonverbal representations in acquiring expertise in complex domains. Outlines lessons from first generation work in this field and issues for second generation research. (SLD)

A critique of the lead article on the effects of practice distribution on motor learning points out that while this is not a new issue, it brings up some important concerns that are not unique to the practice distribution issue but are problems in any investigation of skill learning. (JD)

Evaluates the extent to which Smith's work adds to the theoretical and evidentiary basis for the role of playgrounds in children's education and development. Finds the basic construct of "risk" as presented in the book to be unfocused, and suggests that to make inferences from the work about the value of risk for children is premature. (HTH)

Builds on C. Christie's innovative work to chart a future course for research on evaluation. Describes a variety of forms that a more evidence-based approach to evaluation theory could take and offers suggestions to help increase the amount and impact of evidence in evaluation theory. (SLD)

Criticism of the theory that massed practice depresses performance as well as learning asserts that any generalization based on some limited amount of admissible evidence will provide an incomplete description of the psychological processes underlying skill learning. (JD)

The general analysis of Latin American educational research by A. Akkari and S. Perez seems to describe a homogeneity among Latin American countries without specifying factors peculiar to each country. A more rigorous approach is needed to describe research in more than 20 independent countries. (SLD)

Reports on the 1990 World Conference of the International Council for Distance Education. Focuses on strategies for the organization of distance education, distance students in the 1990s, future technological developments, and distance education research and teacher training. (DMM)

Continues the exploration of the future direction for the field of adult literacy and calls for improved empirical underpinnings for practice in the area of adult literacy and the improvement of the research base. (SLD)

Argues that Susan Sugarman's article in this issue contains some valid criticism of assumptions in developmental psychology, but that some of her conclusions regarding other assumptions need to be questioned. Suggests that many problems raised by Sugarman would disappear if developmental psychologists concentrated on children's early achievements…

Analysis of six books on workplace change indicates (1) workplace data collection and social stratification measures must change; (2) definition of unemployment is becoming amorphous; (3) studies of gender/racial inequality should consider networking and recruitment issues; (4) disillusioned workers should be studied; and (5) political and social…

This book is a significant contribution to the field of sociology of school knowledge. It looks at the historical development of the field and argues that, although this field has appealed only to a limited audience, it has the potential to reach a larger audience of scholars if an alternative research agenda could be created. (SLD)

This collection of nine chapters covers a wide range of topics such as knowledge acquisition, learning strategies and metacognition, intelligence, and large-scale testing regarding cognitive theory and assessment. In-depth reviews of relevant research are provided, with directions for further research. (SLD)

The Multiple Option Observation System for Experimental Studies (MOOSES) is a flexible data collection and analysis package for applied behavioral research that addresses the needs of researchers interested in live coding of observational data. MOOSES allows the researcher to design a coding system for a particular research question. General types…

Discusses an article by Tom Barone, "A Narrative of Enhanced Professionalism: Educational Researchers and Popular Storybooks about Schoolpeople," which challenges educational researchers to work toward changing the public's generally negative conception of schools and schooling by creating compelling narratives about schoolpeople. (SR)