The appropriate implementation of innovation is a crucial factor in improving educational practice. In the implementation process, there is, however, often a lack of interaction between designers and practitioners that would enable the latter to become competent enough to implement theoretical knowledge into practice and to have an ongoing support…

This article highlights key online teacher professional development (oTPD) areas in need of research based on a review of current oTPD research conducted in conjunction with an oTPD conference held at Harvard University in fall 2005. The literature review of this field documents much work that is anecdotal, describing professional development…

The professional development school (PDS) is a model of choice for many teacher preparation programs. This approach integrates the functions of teacher preparation, professional development, inquiry and research, and student achievement to bring about whole-school improvement and the simultaneous renewal of the teaching profession. Ideally,…

This discussion was presented at a symposium organized to study the usage of systematic research, development, diffusion, and evaluation (RDD&E) strategies being used in the establishment of RDD&E training programs. Three levels of exploring these programs are suggested: looking at specific RDD&E projects, allowing the Research Training Branch of…

The purpose of this paper is to: (1) discuss the reasons for applying the experimental method to program evaluation; (2) review the basic elements of the experimental method; (3) illustrate refinements and variants of the experimental method with examples from program evaluation in the social sciences; (4) describe ways in which funding directives…

THIS WAS ONE OF FOUR SEMINARS CONDUCTED TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY AND QUANTITY OF RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT IN VOCATIONAL EDUCATION. OBJECTIVES WERE TO DEVELOP (1) A CONCEPT OF THE ROLE AND THE ESSENTIAL CONDITIONS FOR RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT IN STATE PROGRAMS, (2) AN UNDERSTANDING OF A FUNCTIONAL ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE FOR CONDUCTING A PROGRAM OF…

Proceedings of a symposium sponsored by the Coalition for Education in the Outdoors (CEO) are presented in this report. The CEO is a network of institutions, organizations, agencies, businesses, and associations in support of outdoor education. This symposium, reflecting the work of CEO's Research Task Force, provides literature reviews and field…

Considerations in conducting attitude surveys concerning bilingual education are discussed. An introductory section examines briefly the history of the controversy over bilingual education, legislative initiatives, and some previous opinion research. Specific kinds of information needs relating to public opinion are then noted and problems arising…

Strengths and weaknesses of three types of semiquantitative methods used by the federal government in research impact assessment are presented, and examples of their use are reviewed. These include the classic retrospective method, another retrospective approach, and accomplishments books used by selected research-sponsoring organizations. (SLD)

The stated purpose of this paper is to review some of the critical issues that arise in the planning and conduct of the evaluation of action programmes amongst the socially and educationally disadvantaged, and to suggest the means that might be adopted to overcome the inherent difficulties. The discussion first focuses on the characteristics of…

The progress of an Improving the Efficiency of Educational Systems (IEES) Project initiative toward developing a prototype indicator system for tracking the overall education systems in participating countries, is described in this interim report. Two needed dimensions were identified during the development of the model: (1) incorporate…

Four groups of people were requested to review the Rand Corporation's design for a longitudinal study of school desegregation. These groups can be labeled as Desegregation and Minority Student Education Experts, Distinguished Social Scientists, Federal Officals Responsible for Desegregation Research, and U.S. Commission on Civil Rights (USCCR)…

Four groups of people were requested to review the Rand Corporation's design for a longitudinal study of school desegregation. When the study design documents were sent to the reviewers, an evaluation questionnaire was attached. The reviewers were asked to add any needed clarifying comments in the spaces provided after each question, and to write…

This essay discusses methodological and ethical problems in the implementation and evaluation of home-based intervention programs for young children and their families. Part I notes the difficulties in (1) selecting an appropriate research design to evaluate a program (e.g., preventing sample bias), (2) specifying precisely the intervention method…

In an extensive review of research on participation in adult education, the author discusses limitations and problems in past studies. If lifelong learning principles are to be adopted worldwide, he suggests that participation data be systematically collected and experimental research be rigorously conducted. (SK)