Examines American Indian communities' attitudes toward social science research and Anglo social science researchers. Discusses the positive role that Indian social scientists can play in improving the quantity and quality of research conducted in Indian communities. (Author/GC)

The history of institutional research is examined with specific reference to its promotion and organization during the last twenty-five years. It is suggested that institutional research now has all the elements necessary for its continuation and has become an established part of higher education. (Author/SF)

The author argues that the prison system is inherently coercive, and that social and behavioral scientists have been used by state agents to facilitate control of prisoners. He urges that the major objective of research in prisons be to promote the principle of human liberation. (Author/RLV)

The role of the research administrator in assuring that ethical judgments are made is discussed. Included are some of the ethical questions faced in providing advice and judgment on policies, procedures, and issues that conflict with each other and that may represent very different value systems. (JMF)

Identifies and describes stresses that the ethnographer experiences in the research setting. Suggests coping strategies for dealing with phenomena such as (1) data overload, (2) participant observation, (3) participation/intervention, (4) the researcher's need for acceptance, identity and reciprocity, (5) data presentation and distribution, and…

The author suggests that education researchers and supporters of research should be more modest about the potential of such research for solving all the problems of schools, colleges, and students. Priorities should include improving the quality of research, effecting demonstrably useful changes, and optimizing communication with policy makers.…

A survey of 341 doctor of philosophy, 47 doctorate of nursing science, and 13 doctor of education nursing students found that Ph.D. candidates perceived a stronger research preparation, which they would not receive in the other two doctoral programs. They did not perceive the Ph.D. as preparing them to be educators, practitioners, or…

A collaborative group of postgraduate students in education and their supervisors identified issues related to the long completion times and high attrition rates of education postgraduates. Students felt ill prepared for research and experienced isolation, lack of resources and structure, and changed power relationships. (SK)

Proposes a model for teacher action research: (1) develop an action plan; (2) implement the plan; (3) observe effects in the classroom; and (4) reflect on effects. Gives examples of application in classrooms using technology. (SK)

Wilson discusses ways in which educational research is rendered ineffective, stemming from distortion of the concepts of "education" and "research." Includes three commentaries: Harry Brighouse discusses factors impeding research, John White contests the definition of education, and Marian Sainsbury argues that educational…

Presents guidelines for planning successful workshop presentations. Discusses how to determine the basics of a presentation and what to do before, during, and after the workshop. (KHR)

Describes a participatory research project that involved adult education practitioners in the Caribbean in collecting, analyzing, and interpreting data. Explains how participatory research is the process by which knowledge is generated and skills are acquired, by both the researcher and the researched. (SK)

Maintains that progress in understanding reading is impeded when researchers working from different perspectives adopt the assumption of paradigm incompatibility. Argues that this assumption is false, and that progress toward a comprehensive understanding of the reading process would be hastened if investigators from all perspectives agreed to a…

Argues that the meetings of the National Council of Teachers of English and the Conference on College Composition and Communication should focus on improving the literacy skills of students rather than promulgating superficial results of poorly conducted research. (RS)

Describes a study of the duties being performed by institutional researchers in Southern 2-year colleges, revealing that less than half of the 301 colleges that responded to the survey employed an institutional researcher on at least a half-time basis and that many researchers expressed dissatisfaction with their job responsibilities. (DMM)