Whether the goal is to identify and describe trends and variation in populations, create new measures of key phenomena, or describe samples in studies aimed at identifying causal effects, description plays a critical role in the scientific process in general and education research in particular. Descriptive analysis identifies patterns in data to…

This paper argues that the introduction of the scientific method in the very rich environments of the natural sciences or human sciences may disguise the process and create difficulties for students because of the multiplicity of variables involved, whereas the variables present in a mathematical context can be readily manipulated and their…

A science unit on clocks demonstrates the need to control variables to obtain reliable results from an experiment. Two activities, one for beginners and one for advanced students, are included. Directions for making a sundial are offered. (MT)

A core component of many new educational programs funded under the "No Child Left Behind Act of 2001" is that they be based on scientifically based research. Like others in the educational community, counselors and counseling researchers welcome the opportunity to empirically test the validity of their practices and demonstrate that what…

Describes a college course which will help students develop an appreciation of the systematic study of politics. Students learn to scientifically explore political behavior and events and develop knowledge of elementary research design principles and problems in preparation for a subsequent elective course in political science research methods.…

Presents important principles and issues related to postpositivism including logic of confirmation and logic of falsification. Discusses possible applications in science education. Lists 23 references. (YP)

Presents an experiment to compare the effectiveness of 95% ethanol to 20% bleach as disinfectants using t-tests for the statistical analysis of the data. Reports that bleach is a better disinfectant. Discusses the statistical and practical significance of the results. (JRH)

Discusses the adoption of a notation system that is generalizable to all instructional designers and will allow and encourage a common communication base. Ten instructional design models are discussed as systems approaches to instructional design. (JEG)

Summarizes teacher effectiveness literature and explores teaching-as-science and teaching-as-art, attempting to choose the best metaphor to describe the profession. The science-process metaphor has a better chance for improving teaching, though becoming a classroom scientist or researcher may be a difficult and lengthy process. Includes 24…

Contemporary philosophy of science is controversial and includes debate about the relativity of scientific knowledge and the rationality of scientific enterprise. Crucial questions and important ramifications for science education are presented through discussion of these philosophical disputes. (DH)

Analyzes the relationship between Karl Popper's philosophy and a 1912 paper by F. G. Hopkins which was instrumental in convincing scientists about merits of the vitamin theory. Concludes that Hopkins' work was convincing because it subjected a theory (which was the center of attention) to the severest possible tests, supporting Popper's position.…

Presents examples of the use of history in the teaching of biology. An appendix contains 47 resources. (MKR)

Describes a hands-on physics exercise, entitled "The Triangle of Science" designed to review math skills, estimating and approximating skills, and help to develop students' appreciation of the limits of scientific investigation. (ZWH)

Presents a new approach for the determination of the temperature coefficient of resistance of a resistor and a thermistor. Advantages include teaching students how to linearize data in order to utilize least-squares techniques, continuously taking data over desired temperature range, using up-to-date data-acquisition techniques, teaching the use…

The shift of focus from teachers to curriculum has left supervision as a field struggling to find its place within its own professional organization. This article searches for a proper definition of supervision, highlighting scientific, developmental, and democratic approaches and exploring problems of perspective and common ground. Includes 48…