Discusses the division within the social studies profession between the social studies theorists and the practitioners. Points out the complexity of citizenship as the foundation for social studies. Suggests that theorists need to engage in dialogue within their profession and with the practitioners. (SLM)

Specific approaches are proposed to increase collaboration between researchers and practitioners to meet the growing research needs of the nation's schools and to assist in data-based decision-making efforts. A research-practice paradigm is described. (TJH)

Describes the struggle one teacher educator shared with three friends who joined her in studying the teacher and researcher roles of someone becoming a teacher educator. The intense self-study examined tensions, issues, and dilemmas that emerged as these teachers interacted with others in the context of academia. (SM)

Describes three classes of measurement techniques: (1) interviewing methods; (2) record retrieval procedures; and (3) observation methods. Discusses primary reasons for measurement error. Concludes that, although measurement error can be defined and controlled for, there are other design factors that also must be considered. (CFR)

Reviews three books that encourage practioners to be researchers of their own practice. Discusses absolutist and relativist approaches to research by examining assumptions related to questions the research generates. Recommends unification of practitioner and researcher roles through a dialectic, critical, reflective orientation that strives for…

Contends that sociologists confront criticism of the nature and ends of sociological research and ethical dilemmas in the study of social problems and people. Provides suggestions for ending neocolonial attitudes among social science researchers. (CFR)

Reviews and describes different versions of feminism and postmodernism. Reviews the current debate about the challenges that the two sets of theories offer to traditional epistomologies. Concludes with suggestions about the influence of feminism and postmodernism on educational research. (CFR)

Argues that advanced networks, particularly BITNET, NSFNET (National Science Foundation Network), Internet, and NREN (National Research and Education Network) can simplify global networking as well as library functions and interfaces; provide easier and more cost-effective connection of the research and education communities; and transport very…

Guidelines to help ensure that educational research is meaningful and important include (1) have confidence in your own conviction and methods; (2) remember that the conduct of research is an artistic activity; and (3) try to situate the inquiry in a social and historical context to increase its meaning. (SLD)

A Lewinian orientation to educational problems fits current innovative thinking in education (e.g., models for making education multicultural), and provides the bases of important applied work on cooperative learning techniques and constructive ways of structuring conflict within educational settings. Lewinian field theory provides a broad…

Discussion of computer-mediated communication (CMC) describes the SIPP (Survey of Income and Program Participation) ACCESS project, which provides access to statistical data through electronic networks; summarizes research on use of CMC by scientists; profiles communication by social scientists in the SIPP ACCESS network; and offers policy…

A feminist perspective is necessary for the continued vitality of social psychology. Major themes of the feminist perspective are reviewed, and some important women from early U.S. psychology are identified as founders of social psychology. In the future, the feminist perspective will function in social psychology as a systems theory. (SLD)

Using the discipline of history as a case study, the scholarly community of inquiry is compared with the community of inquiry in the classroom. The teacher's role in negotiating knowledge of each is discussed. The more teachers are integrated into the scholarly community, the better they will interpret it. (SLD)

Researchers are advised to work hard toward publishing articles where they will get full attention from the ablest professionals in the field. A second piece of advice is to interact with persons in the field of special research interest, and seek them out through publications and professional conferences. (SLD)

Research of cognitive scientists is resulting in new learning theories through which students can move from novice to expert. How cognitive scientists work and how their results are applied are discussed. Reciprocal teaching, as implemented in the Springfield (Illinois) schools, provides an example of a successful research-based technique. (SLD)