Examines peer review in the National Institutes of Health and in scholarly journals and discusses limitations--time, paperwork, subjectivity, limited resources, and increased instances of misconduct and unethical behavior. Suggests reforms: eliminate anonymity, use review specialists, have institutions monitor their own faculty, and conduct…

Notes that nearly all existing empirical work on stepfamilies has been published in 1980s. Describes demographic context for this work and surveys research on stepchildren, remarriage, and stepfamily functioning. Identifies problems in extant research and suggests areas for future research. Emphasizes explicit and implicit theories that guided…

Discusses trends and problems in regarding discourse analysis as a viable paradigm that can govern research, focusing on such issues as the wide diversity and variety of research that can be considered discourse analysis, the predominant focus on English language, research approaches, and undefined variables affecting research outcomes. (seven…

Discusses the evaluation of moderator variables in meta-analysis: (1) issues in testing theory using moderator variables; (2) when to look for moderators; (3) how not to look for moderators; and (4) how to look for moderators using contrast analysis. (SR)

Highlights some of the limitations of meta-analytic knowledge claims. Illustrates their problematic consequences for later research. Details effective methods of dealing with these potential problems. (SR)

Rejoinders to the preceding commentaries include "Who Claims Holland's Hexagon Is Perfect?" (Prediger, Vansickle); "Comments on the Universality of Holland's Theory" (Fouad, Dancer); and "In Search of Structural Validity" (Swanson). (SK)

The use of meta-analysis to resolve issues in the fields of organizational behavior and human resources management was reviewed by coding 35 studies on 21 methodological variables. Results illustrate the tremendous variability in how researchers apply meta-analysis. Suggestions are provided for correctly using meta-analysis. (SLD)

This critical literature review shows that studies of quality of life (QOL) for persons with disabilities follow a sharp dichotomy between subjective and objective approaches, whereas the phenomenon of QOL calls for a holistic approach. QOL is examined in terms of dynamic integration of the individual into the society. (Author/JDD)

Examines the assumptions, methods, and findings of computer-mediated communication (CMC) research and suggests that negative relational effects are confined to narrow situational boundary conditions. Suggests that communicators develop individuating impressions of others through accumulated CMC messages. (MG)

Addresses two vital issues in international studies of educational achievement: the quality of data obtained from participating countries and the interpretation of those data. Contends that examples of problems in item development for international studies are related to the quality of the data and norms used in interpretation. (Author/NB)

Used statistical procedures that have become routine in other social sciences to analyze data from clinical service records. Despite absence of control groups, nonrandom assignment of clients to treatment conditions, and incomplete records, effective analyses of psychotherapeutic process were possible. Graphical methods for summarizing large data…

Applications of the confirmatory factor analysis block-diagonal model to published data on 18 multitrait-multimethod matrices were reviewed to show widespread estimation problems. Possible causes of estimation difficulties were explored using computer simulations. These problems make the block-diagonal approach less useful than has generally been…

Asserts that research has not been integral role in identities of mental health counselors, and yet this role is critical to advancement of the profession. Addresses personal and organizational barriers to research in mental health. Offers proposal for preservice and in-service training in research, with particular attention to relevant research…

Compared alprazolam, imipramine, and placebo in the treatment of panic disorder patients (n=59) to investigate concerns about the internal validity of the double-blind design. Found that the great majority of patients and physicians were able to rate accurately whether active drug or placebo had been given and physicians could distinguish between…

Explored hypothesis that husbands with lower levels of emotional involvement with their families are less likely to participate in research. Administered questionnaires to wives (N=57) of husbands refusing to participate in study and wives (N=120) of husbands who willingly participated. Found nonparticipant husbands rated as less emotionally…