Research has demonstrated that school-based problem-solving teams (SB PSTs), a term describing teams engaging in efforts to remediate problems in school settings, can effectively improve student functioning while reducing special education referrals and disproportionality. Unfortunately, questions remain as to the effectiveness of SB PSTs in the…

Examines family research and its cultural setting in 1937, then reports on changes and commonalities in research topics, research methods, and use of theory from 1937 through 1987. Offers general evaluations of current research and suggestions for changes that might increase productivity of family research. (Author)

This article identifies major steps forward in gifted education (such as the Marland Report and Renzulli's Enrichment Triad Model) and external and internal impediments such as the anti-tracking movement and claims of differentiated instruction in the regular classroom. Proposals for gifted education in the new millennium include committing to…

In this commentary, we examine the articles in this special issue in terms of a continuum of research to practice strategies currently used in school psychology. On one end of the continuum is the "publish and hope" approach, and at the other end is the "change the organization to fit the innovation" approach. We present the concept of innovation…

This paper examines the development of service policy for people with intellectual disabilities in Australia, noting the minor role of research and empirical enquiry. Research's significant role in monitoring policy during the implementation phase is, however, acknowledged. A coordinated research program contributing to both policy development and…

Twenty articles dealing with literacy published in the "American Annals of the Deaf" from 1996 to 2000 were reviewed. A movement away from the whole language approach to a more eclectic, analytic orientation was noted. Old problems in processing syntax continued. Questions regarding the value of captioning for deaf individuals with poor literacy…

This commentary discusses concerns related to special education research, particularly the research-to-practice gap in the United States. It contends that by addressing problems associated with teacher education, teacher attrition, and teacher shortage in special education, great strides can be made in closing the gap. (Contains references.)…

Issues and assumptions underlying the current movement toward educational reform are explored. The historical antecedents of the current interest in accountability date back to before the turn of the century, but the beginning of mandated accountability in federal programs occured in the late 1960's. Publication of "A Nation at Risk" in…

In the last four decades, many of the studies on contrastive linguistics have been intended for and directed to second language teachers, on the assumption that a major problem in language learning arises from interference caused by structural differences in the native and target languages. However, this effort has had little impact on the…

This study compared the ideas of researchers with those of practitioners in higher education regarding what is considered significant and useful literature in terms of content, methodology, and format. The findings were interpreted in terms of theories of action research and the quality movement. Data were compiled using focus groups of…

Trends over the past 25 years in research on evaluation of school administrative leadership are analyzed in this summary report. Administrator evaluation became a concern as the principal's influence on the performance and attitudes of faculty and staff was realized. Research on organizational psychology demonstrated the relationship between…

This paper proposes that consultation meets the definition of an educational technology and examines reasons why it has not been utilized more frequently by practitioners. First, it defines an educational technology and compares consultation to exemplars of educational technologies (such as classwide peer tutoring) and to non-exemplars (such as…

Technical and vocational education and training (TVET) has reemerged as a hot topic in policy debates on educational developments in developing nations. This renewed interest in TVET is motivated by the necessity to address the new economic challenges stemming from recognition of the role of knowledge in economic development and the deep…

Significant developments have occurred in the field of professional development (PD) in Australia's vocational education and training (VET) sector in the past 10 years. During the early 1990s, work-based learning (WBL) became the preferred model for PD in the VET sector. Research sponsored by the National Staff Development Committee of the…

This document contains 14 papers from the skills for the new millennium section of an international conference on vocational education and training (VET) for lifelong learning in the information era. The following papers are included: "Research on Vocational Education and Training as a Field for Knowledge Development--Starting Points for the…