The problem of the comparability of change scores is investigated. Change quotients and residual change scores are evaluated as alternative approaches and methods for estimating the true change and true score residual, the reliability of change scores and residuals, and procedures for constructing confidence intervals for residuals are explored.…

The increasing occupation of journals with the subject of political persuasion is briefly surveyed. A set of principles which might be utilized to reconceive an inventional theory are proposed, and means through which these principles may be applied in studies of political persuasion are suggested. The decision to shift from a speaker/message…

A potential solution to a part of the philosophical and methodological problems of defining nonbureaucratic and alternative organization models is the suggestion that a clear, definitional distinction be made between nonbureaucratic models (which are developed using bureaucratic-related variables) and alternative models (which are developed using…

No general comprehensive theory of underachievment exists despite much research having been performed and hundreds of articles having been published. Further, underachievement as a concept often seems to be divorced from the individual pupil's or student's unique problem(s) as an underachiever. Indeed, even the designation "underachiever" differs…

Explores why educational research results have been disappointing arguing that if further progress is to be made toward conducting it in a scientific way, more careful attention must be paid to basic assumptions, especially about the nature of education, about human nature itself, and about what is to count as scientific. (JT)

This paper addresses the particular area of inequality and segregation in public education, and some of the emerging research issues. (Author)

Scientific rigor, including research design and data analysis, has been established and can now be applied to careful investigations outside the laboratory. This rigor can assist in studying the areas of human development and behavior. Without it, research in natural environments will continue to be inadequate and inaccurate sources of knowledge.…

Critical features of sound observational studies fall under three categories: the sampling framework; the theoretical model; and the statistical procedure. If the methodology for explanatory, rather than descriptive, observational studies can be applied within these categories, more consistent, convincing, useful explanations of educational…

Recent studies are examined for methodological adequacy in establishing dimensions of individual differences in information-processing abilities, and the theoretical problems involved in inferring psychological processes from individual difference dimensions. Methodological inadequacies include use of small samples, questionable procedures in…

Methods used in validating construct interpretations of self-concept measurements are briefly reviewed, and relevant papers presented in this special issue are discussed. The strengths and limitations of each paper are outlined. Thirty bibliographical references are included. (Author/MV)

This paper explores the psychological significance of preserving privacy, the ways in which different kinds of research may threaten privacy, the requirements for minimizing or counteracting such threats, and the conditions under which research representing a certain degree of invasion of privacy can nevertheless be justified. (Author/AM)

Federal legislation dealing with protection of human subjects in biomedical and behavioral research is reviewed to delineate trends relevant to researchers who utilize aged human subjects. The aged have not yet been defined as a high-risk group due to a lack of systematic investigation. (Author)

This paper critically examines the locus of control literature on the personality dimensions of internal and external control. It discusses the ideological bias of the internal-external control construct, the racist implications of the research and writing emanating from this construct and the limitations of the construct to contribute to a better…

The utility of the Wilms study for policy making in vocational education is critically examined. A set of criteria for examining research for policy is presented and then applied to the Wilms study with the conclusion that because of its weaknesses the report cannot be taken seriously for policymaking although it has done a service to the…