Introduces the three subsequent articles from this special section, which extend the discussion of future prospects for progress in the reporting and interpreting of effect sizes by researchers. The authors of these pieces represent diverse views. (SLD)

This article proposes a set of criteria for reporting meta-analyses of topics in learning disabilities. Application of the criteria to examples of published meta-analyses reveals the wide variation in amount of reported data, which could influence the summative results of meta-analyses and subsequent judgment of face validity. (Author/DB)

This analysis of the descriptive information on subjects provided by 266 research reports on autism and developmental disabilities found a continuing trend toward more complete descriptive information; increased use of control or comparison groups; less research in biological, physiological, and neurological areas; and more research in the social,…

Narrative research, a qualitative research approach, includes a broad range of accounts, from first-person narratives to studies that interpret the stories others tell about their lives. This paper explores the nature of narrative and knowledge building in educational research, the complexities of "good" storytelling, and moral issues…

Postmodern developments in counseling and therapy have led to the emergence of the use of the narrative metaphor in therapeutic practice. Investigates the evolution of narrative approaches in counseling and therapy and explores the philosophical, theoretical, and practical assumptions of this relatively untested application. Some of its unique…

Originally published in March/April 1996, reviews the interconnections between two national reports, "Involvement in Learning," and the "Student Learning Imperative." Focuses on the issue of shared values and demonstrates how student affairs professionals can utilize the most recent research to realize the full potential of the…

Provides a synthesis of the literature pertaining to the principles and practices of performance measurement, auditing, evaluation, and reporting. Discusses how bringing these elements together in a performance management system can be achieved through refinement of strategic direction, reporting on key measures, and periodic, systematic…

Briefly describes report by Gary Orfield, codirector of Harvard University's Civil Rights Project, that finds American public schools have become much less desegregated than they were 10 years ago. (PKP)

This article examines concepts of the trustworthiness, or credibility, of qualitative research. Following a "researcher-as-instrument," or self-reflective, statement, the paradigmatic underpinnings of various criteria for judging the quality of qualitative research are explored, setting the stage for a discussion of more transcendent standards…

This article reports how a national panel has concluded that there's little empirical evidence to show that many of the most common practices in the teacher education field produce effective teachers. The conclusion comes from a 766-page study produced by a panel of experts from the American Educational Research Association, a Washington-based…

Comments on "Positive psychology progress: Empirical validation of interventions" by Seligman, Steen, Park, and Peterson (see record 2005-08033-003). Seligman and colleagues provided a progress report on positive psychology, reviewing the impressive developments over the past five years. We wholeheartedly support the positive psychology movement…

Drawing on existing work on popularizations, this investigation of book-length scholarly essays by practicing scientists across three disciplines reveals a hybrid genre that is neither popularization nor research report. The study utilizes both textual analysis and personal commentary from the writer-researchers to achieve a three-way comparison…

Prior research examining children's ratings of stressful life events indicated that, by the time children are in sixth grade, they fear only going blind and losing a parent more than academic retention. The current study provides a contemporary analysis of elementary grade students' perceptions of stressful life events at home and school. First-,…

Improving the quality of reporting could increase the usefulness of research for readers such as parents, students, practitioners, policy-makers, systematic reviewers and other researchers. This paper first presents an analysis of the reporting of basic information about the aims, context and methods used in a sample of published empirical…

This paper discusses cultural barriers in educational assessment by comparing Japanese and German school report cards. The discussions on assessment fluctuate between two intellectual extremes: objectified selection or educational diagnosis. In Japan, many teachers make written comments on school report cards with ambiguous expressions to avoid…