The success of Philadelphia's "What Works in Reading?" report shows how educational research can be a catalyst for school change and indicates a way for school districts to institutionalize this process. Ten factors were associated with the report's immediate impact on educational policy: identification of the research clients, topical…

In planning the first doctoral program in education at the new University of South Florida, the guiding purpose was to create a significant innovation recognizing among other things that 1) urban schools are society's most difficult education problem, for which effective research offers hope for solutions, 2) the college is involved in urban…

It is suggested that the potential contributions research and development activities can make to the improvement of educational practice are far from fully realized for a variety of reasons. Researchers overlook problems teachers consider important, teachers are skeptical of proposals from external groups, and researchers and teachers lack a…

After tracing the rationale, development, and activities of this project on problem areas in Mexican American education--from initial identification of 26 problem areas, to a review of 19 position papers, to the final delineation of 10 priority areas for research and/or development--this report presents for each of these top-priority areas…

Considers some ways to improve the milieu in which educational research and development takes place, including balancing procurement methods, modifying expectations of R & D, building a political constituency and developing realistic legislative goals, obtaining continual adequate research support, and, joining researchers and practitioners.…

Intended to provide information on applied research and development (R&D) priorities in vocational education and on the type of R&D required for each need, this report is divided into (1) an introduction to the problem and procedures, (2) a content analysis of selected documents, and (3) background papers for selected need areas. Chapter 1…

This report presents a detailed picture of educational research and development in the United States. It explores conceptual structures and gives a background description of American education. A brief history of educational research in the United States is followed by long chapters on the sponsors, performers, and management of educational…

From April to September 1995, Arizona's Maricopa Community College District (MCCD) conducted interviews with faculty and staff to develop a database of innovative practices related to the District's desired learning paradigms. This report describes results from the study in three sections. The first section summarizes the project's research…

There is an emerging research base on teacher effectiveness that should be used in redesigning teacher education programs. However, the complexity of teaching and learning does not permit simple solutions to complex problems. Several studies, projects, and programs with the goal of conducting research for teacher education programs are discussed.…

An overview is presented of the background and proceedings of a conference planned to share information on dissemination and utilization research conducted by National Institute of Education sponsored projects in educational laboratories and R&D centers in order to form a community among those who share similar research objectives and problems.…

Educational research and development (educational R&D), more recently called educational knowledge production and utilization, has become a prominent feature of the educational scene with many of its salient characteristics having taken shape during the last ten years. The federal role in educational R&D began in 1867 with the formation of the…

The New Literacy Studies (NLS) is an approach that places literacy in its wider context of institutional purposes and power relationships. The NLS has been suggested as offering a useful theoretical basis from which to proceed in developing sustainable lifelong learning in relation to literacy. The first of three issues related to this suggestion…

Objectives, challenges, and needs of an educational research and development center at Biyadh University, Saudi Arabia are discussed. Major objectives of the center are to cooperate with the ministry of education and other agencies in conducting projects, to foster research projects of qualified individuals, and to exchange information and…

Explores the opportunities and problems inherent in the working relationship between sociologists and educators. Examines the ways that educational sociologists can participate in linking research, policy, and practice. Posits three requirements for productive collaboration between educators and sociologists: multilingualism, mutual programs, and…

A statewide survey of educators and lay citizens was made to uncover their perceptions as to what are the most crucial concerns, problems, and needs of vocational education in Kentucky. A modified Delphi Survey was considered to be the most appropriate survey technique. A questionnaire (Appendix A) asking for a list of six to eight major concerns,…