The article reviews 36 studies conducted since 1967 which evaluated operant conditioning techniques to develop and improve self-help skills of mentally retarded persons. (Author)

This study used multiple regression analysis to estimate the effects of variance in teacher ratings explained by teacher-produced variability (teaching practices and/or skills) and by student-produced variability (education level, motivation, and goals) on selected student variables. Previous research suggested that these student variables…

Research literature on childrens' causal understanding in oral and written settings is reviewed. Results show that maturation and task complexity both influence childrens' causal understanding. However, the findings are contradictory, and no generalizations could be made about which factors influence causal understanding and at which ages they are…

Describes a study which compared the performance of learning handicapped and nonhandicapped boys in grades four, five, and six working in like pairs, mixed pairs, and individually at the computer on a mathematics problem-solving task. It was found that the boys worked as effectively in pairs as they did individually. (LRW)

Demonstrates how structural equation modeling can be used to translate a verbal theory into a mathematical model that can be estimated and tested, and from which inferences can be drawn. Data used was taken from a previous study of the effects of family socialization on the formation of achievement values and self-concept. (Author/RH)

Reports the methodology and conclusions of a study that examined the research skills of graduate students by analyzing the bibliographies of over 600 master's theses. Presented by academic department, the results include the type of formats used (books, periodicals, etc.), currentness of citations, and possible source of indexing for the journals.…

Outlines a conceptual framework for investigating distance education students' attitudes toward education and describes the results of a study. Concepts discussed are socialization, including influences of the educational institution, work, family, and friends; professionalization; feelings of power and control over work and career; and reasons…

Suggests that viewing aesthetic reading as a process whereby readers and writers attempt to "make contact" and collaborate in making meaning forces one to adopt research strategies that go beyond measuring reading comprehension, and offers two studies to illustrate these ideas. (JC)

The longitudinal study of 226 learning disabled (LD) subjects found a significant correlation (28 percent) between parents' educational level/socioeconomic status (SES) and subjects' occupational and academic outcome. Fathers' SES was the major contributing parent variable. SES should be carefully controlled in studies of LD students' achievement.…

Describes a project in which summative evaluation was successfully applied in guiding the content of a rural media campaign to increase rice production in Sierra Leone, and in judging the campaign's impact upon completion. The pretest phase of the evaluation, project material development, and evaluation results are described. (MBR)

Several lines of needed research on teaching are discussed, including process-outcome research, structuring the content for clarity, teaching cognitive skills and problem-solving strategies, recitation and boardwork, seatwork and homework, conceptual change teaching, classroom organization and grouping, cooperative learning methods, sex equity,…

Argues that libraries have gone through a rising and falling pattern of influence, largely in response to changes in information technology. The library of the future is described as an information support center where librarians can fill two new roles: systems analysts and knowledge engineers. (EM)

Consistent results of two experiments, in which undergraduate students were taught relatively technical native language vocabulary through keyword methods, showed that effectiveness of such methods depended upon whether meanings of words to be learned were abstract or concrete and whether comprehension was assessed immediately or after a delay.…

A study was conducted to assess effectiveness of a computer simulation which exposed students to three levels of real-life research situations as laboratory experience accompanying graduate level research design course. Simulation effects on achievement, perceived research competence, interest in research, and effects of differing amounts of…

Describes an evaluation framework designed, developed, and implemented as an evaluation study of an existing faculty development program for family physicians at Michigan State University. A metaevaluation of the evaluation study identifies strengths and weaknesses of the evaluation framework. (Author)