Per definition, CSCL research deals with the data of individuals nested in groups, and the influence of a specific learning setting on the collaborative process of learning. Most well-established statistical methods are not able to analyze such nested data adequately. This article describes the problems which arise when standard methods are…

Obesity in children is a problem both insidious and acute. Childhood obesity has been indicated as a forerunner of adult obesity; it is also an immediate problem for the child. Given the lack of evidence for long term maintenance of any weight loss, this paper investigates the etiology of the disorder as a prelude to prevention. Upon review of the…

Until experimenters can achieve some measure of control over access to information associated with their writing stimuli and outcome measures, research in composition will have a difficult time providing meaningful information on the unique effects on writing of such things as training programs, ethnicity, previous education, and sex. (HOD)

The conceptualization and measurement of key job characteristics has not changed greatly for most social scientists since the Dictionary of Occupational Titles and Quality of Employment surveys were created, despite their recognized limitations. However, debates over the roles of job skill requirements, technology, and new management practices in…

Documenting treatment integrity is an important issue in research and practice in any discipline concerned with prevention and intervention. However, consensus concerning the dimensions of treatment integrity and how they should be measured has yet to emerge. Advances from three areas in which significant treatment integrity work has taken…

The concept of treatment integrity cuts across a diversity of fields involved with providing treatments or interventions to individuals. In medical treatments, the concept of "treatment compliance" or "treatment adherence" is an important and problematic issue. In the field of nutrition, the concept of "dietary adherence" is important for…

The overidentification of structural equation models with latent variables is discussed. The use of two- and three-indicator models is not recommended since such models do not allow a testing of the crucial assumption of unidimensionality among indicators in most cases. Models with four or more indicators may be more sensitive to departures from…

Reviews school desegregation literature to assess how well existing research provides information on school desegregating effects. Identifies disparities in methods and other characteristics among different studies and explores areas for improvement in the methodology and theory of future work. (Author/MJL)

Explanations are offered for observed discrepant and null findings in the area of predictive information about teacher effectiveness. It is argued that if tautologies are to be avoided, only product variables are appropriate criteria of success. Some recommendations regarding future research are offered. (Author/GSK)

Analysis of studies on predictors of people's attitudes toward gifted education reveals that about 50 variables have been examined as potential sources of differences, but not a single variable emerges as a substantial explanatory factor. Major methodological problems in the studies are identified and proposals for future research are offered.…

This paper suggests ways in which manifest, physical attributes of graphic elements can be described and measured. It also proposes a preliminary conceptual model that accounts for the readily apparent, measurable variables in a visual message. The graphic elements that are described include format, typeface, and photographs/artwork. The…

Because of states' growing roles in education, the study of variation in state educational policies contributes to a better understanding of policy processes and to the prediction of possible policy outcomes. Comparing state educational policies involves choosing variables and analytical designs and defining cases, concepts, and measurement.…

This paper reports 20 unsolved problems in educational measurement and points toward what seem to be promising avenues of solution. The first group of concerns involves validity, posing the problems of obtaining suitable validity criteria, determining and measuring the predictor variables that best characterize the traits and proficiencies of…

An examination of the reported psychological profile of runaways suggests no clear relationship between personality and runaway behavior. A multiplicity of factors are potential causal agents for running away; these factors range from sociocultural values to school problems. Future research might focus on alternative values, rather than on…

Studies published since 1965 on the relationship between classroom behavior and academic achievement are reviewed. Criteria are established for selecting the studies, the research is assessed, and recommendations for future research are made. (MH)