Examines the discussion surrounding the establishment of a reliable transfer rate measure by outlining the major arguments advanced by scholars and researchers in the field. Discusses traditional models of calculating transfer rates, their strengths and weaknesses, and introduces nontraditional transfer rate models. (24 citations) (AJL)

Discusses the difficulty in obtaining transfer rates due to the disagreement over definitions of "transfer." Compares different options to show how manipulating the pool of eligible transfer students influences transfer rates. Describes transfer-ready models for calculating transfer eligibility rate, as well as the Student Right-to-Know formula.…

Articulates a fundamental rationale for the practice of qualitative research in music education. Argues that knowledge and experience are by definition subjective and constructed, thereby validating research methodologies that incorporate and acknowledge these realities. Identifies eight "processes" that offer productive research opportunities.…

A study tested a resampling methodology (bootstrap simulation) by examining the effects of class size and student motivation on students' ratings of teaching effectiveness. Results suggest that evaluations based on student ratings should look at more than class averages, and that class size and student motivation affect overall ratings. Examples…

Explores what focus groups are, how they have been utilized by researchers, and some of the practical and theoretical implications for incorporating focus groups in the design of educational research. Includes verbatim transcripts from interviews and specific examples of various focus groups. (MJP)

This study surveyed 12 journals in the field of emotional and behavior disorders to explore trends in five dimensions of research: (1) subject characteristics; (2) settings; (3)research design; (4) dependent variables; and (5) independent variables (interventions). Negligible trends were found and few studies reported interventions that were…

To examine classroom discussion, observations were made in 20 college classes and surveys were administered to 20 faculty and 579 students. Results indicate that little time was devoted to interaction and few students participated. However, teaching techniques (praise, probing for elaboration, accepting answers, repeating students' answers, using…

Argues that the long reign of the behavioralists and the postbehavioralists has reduced political science theory to a Tower of Babel. Loudly trumpets the revival of Aristotelian political philosophy and identifies some of its leading adherents. Posits three fundamental objections to behavioral political theory. (MJP)

Argues that comparative studies in higher education are helpful in conceptual restructuring and in understanding how higher education is shaped by common international trends, reforms based on comparisons, increasing trans-national cooperation, and some supra-national integration of systems. Recommends a semi-structured research design allowing…

The Getty Information Institute conducted a two-year study of online searching by 27 humanities scholars using DIALOG. Discusses results and recommends that library services: provide interdisciplinary information for humanities scholars; recognize that online searching in humanities may be harder than in sciences; expect wide preferences for…

The seven articles of this special issue focus on theory and research related to survey methods and whether evaluators need information that is absent from the larger survey literature. These articles reflect the view that the considerations relating to good survey research apply also to using surveys in evaluation. (SLD)

Discusses the use of print versus electronic resources by undergraduates and describes a study at a Canadian university that examined the use of print resources in relation to online resources. Investigated which type of source they used first and whether problems associated with electronic journals would cause them to switch to print versions.…

The Purga Elders Centre in Queensland (Australia) is an Aboriginal-owned meeting place where Aboriginal culture and history are lived and passed on. Research conducted there is based on Indigenous Knowledge Research (IKR), which is grounded in Indigenous realities and approaches knowledge only through respect for Indigenous epistemologies. Twenty…

Describes a qualitative study of the research and teaching habits of early adopters of electronic journals that was conducted at the University of Illinois, Chicago. Discusses perceptions, expectations, and changing practices pertaining to electronic journals and other electronic resources, focusing on shared behaviors and values and…

A study analyzed 2,378 empirical articles on ethnic minority students published in two learning disability and two special education journals over a 22-year period (1972-94). Studies focused on assessment and testing, sensory-perceptual processing, and placement issues. The majority also compared ethnic groups, used quantitative approaches, and…