As part of an ongoing research collaboration with university-based researchers, Nancy and her teaching partner, Meredith, implemented a loosely defined system of portfolios to supplement the other forms of assessment in their classroom. School-based and university-based researchers interviewed children to assess children's perspectives of their…

This paper reviews methods for conducting and reporting teacher research. Through three cases, the paper explores common and diverse methods employed in classroom inquiry. The paper recounts the history of teacher research and discusses common methodological characteristics as well as context-specific features of teacher research. The first case…

While reading teachers have routinely introduced pre-reading activation strategies for decades, literature teachers are trained to become expert on what happens after reading, to be adept at follow-up, to be agile with close analysis of an already finished reading experience. As a result of a presentation by a reading specialist, a veteran…

This report presents a broad picture of the characteristics of scientists and engineers (S&Es) outside academia and how these characteristics changed between 1980 and 1990. Data for this report come primarily from National Science Foundation tabulations of 1980 and 1990 Public Use Microdata Samples of the decennial census. Around one-third of…

Research presented in this "progress report" is identified and categorized as doctoral dissertations, journal articles, conference papers, and other documents. This one-year "snapshot" provides an overview of the field for experienced researchers, doctoral students, and practitioners who use research findings. A listing of the institutions where…

This paper responds to an article by John Bruer that questions the wisdom behind the recent surge of interest in the educational implications of brain research. Bruer is skeptical about brain-based educational practice and policy. This paper argues in favor of the default alternative that knowledge of brain functioning and development can guide…

This paper summarizes practical strategies that qualitative researchers can employ to improve their interviewing skills. The first section, "The Art of Questioning: Wording Makes a Difference," presents several guidelines: (1) questions should be short and precise; (2) ask only one question at a time; (3) avoid questions in which the…

A special issue of the journal, dedicated to Henry B. Kahane, the late founder of the Department of Linguistics at the University of Illinois at Champaign, celebrates the department's first 25 years. It contains three parts. The first consists of specifically commissioned papers originally written in 1973-74 and meant for a specific project,…

Two college educators, one a philosophy teacher, the other, a composition teacher, undertook a naturalistic study of students' initiation in an introduction to philosophy course. The philosophy teacher found it difficult to articulate his disciplinary ways of knowing, and both researchers had trouble identifying their tacitly held views of…

This symposium paper looks at three paradigms for naturalistic research on visuals: the positivistic, the interpretive, and the critical approaches. Discussion centers on questions of epistemology, such as "What do you mean?" and "How do you know?" The place of naturalistic inquiry within this discussion is indicated, and…

Traces the background of the Government's patent policy as a contractor including the Kennedy and Nixon statements, which served finally to establish a government-wide policy. The author considers the new policy consistent and protective of the rights of both Government and the contractor but notes that it is now questioned on Constitutional…

Faculty productivity as measured by publication for the Medical College of Virginia School of Medicine was computed and compared to that of Ph.D.'s in laboratories stressing scientific publication, as reported in previous research. A similar bimodal productivity by age was found for clinical faculty in the medical school setting. (JT)

The study reported assessed different aspects related to the research activities undertaken by students in medical school. An extensive questionnaire was administered to graduating seniors that covered degree of participation in research, length of time, circumstances, importance of pay, and level of resulting benefit. (Editor/PG)

From this data it would appear that teacher ratings are only partly due to individual differences in teaching abilities but also vary with posi tion within the social structure of the university. Some of the conflicting implications of the research findings for university policy are considered. (Editor/PG)