The six articles of this issue discuss the place of meta-analysis in the health professions and present two state-of-the-art meta-analyses using a variety of innovative methodologies, statistics, and secondary analytic procedures. A survey conducted for this issue and its sequel explores interventions to facilitate meta-analysis. (SLD)

Describes personal experiences with university research and development. Criticizes university research as ineffective and inwardly focused, resulting in a concept of scientific research that negates the notion of economic development. Complains that the focus of study no longer contributes to an increase in consumable wealth. Urges that…

Discusses changes in educational research methods over recent decades. Explores changing views of teaching and learning and what the changes mean for assessment and the content and delivery of the curriculum. Concludes that, to be effective, educational research must be relevant to education and perceived as such by educators. (SG)

This interview with Assistant Secretary of Education for the Office of Educational Research and Improvement (OERI) Sharon Robinson describes the new organization of OERI and its new emphasis on accessibility and information dissemination. It outlines plans for the agency and goals for educational research. (SLD)

Suggests that faculty suspects that assessment will only confirm that many students have problems with college level learning. Views assessment as part of the learning enterprise, a way of helping greater proportions of students succeed academically, and a source of information needed to meet diverse student abilities, backgrounds, and interests.…

A brief review of research on native language production precedes a critical discussion of recent second-language production research, focusing on native language research applications to second-language research, the relationship between second-language learning and production, and the various methodologies used to study such production. (190…

Replies to commentaries on the relationship of comparative education theory and practice, addressing the beneficiaries of educational planning and policymaking, the planner's role, evaluation criteria for educational planning, choice of discipline, simplification of theory, analytical versus quantitative research, theoretical foundations of…

Evaluation utilization problems encountered and remedial strategies are discussed by a director of several government evaluation studies and evaluation manager. Political and behavioral prerequisites to evaluation utilization as well as on-going organizational requirements are emphasized. (TJH)

The goals of greater involvement of teachers in their own staff development mirror those of quality adult education. If the further development of teachers as self-directed learners is facilitated by giving them both the time to make the transition to such methods and a chance to plan and implement professional-development projects, both teachers…

Presents a format for assisting educators in translating educational research into classroom interventions. Steps include identifying the problem, seeking a variety of sources, reviewing information, selecting primary sources, distinguishing between theory and opinion, reviewing the parts of a research article, and translating the research into…

Describes the Japanese approach to educational improvement called "research lessons," actual classroom lessons taught to a teacher's own students but observed by other teachers, recorded, and discussed. Outlines the impact of research lessons as examples of good educational practice that can be disseminated throughout Japan. (SLD)

Design characteristics and instructional practices in exemplary technology education accord with cognitive science perspectives on learning, knowledge, and instruction, e.g., collaborative learning, socially distributed expertise, student as designer, and project-based learning. Teachers should examine the degree to which cognitive science theory…

This article considers the connection between academic research in the area of sensory disabilities and the political process of change. In particular, the focus of the article concerns the "thinking" of people who "do" research and those who "do" legislation. A list of suggestions for enhancing political change is included. (Contains six…

Discusses a shift in administration and decision making at colleges and universities since 1975 towards substantially more use of data and analysis to respond to such constituencies as federal agencies, state legislators, students, and donors. Urges the use of research to respond to new policy questions, such as appropriate rates of withdrawal…

Discusses the "think tank" programs of the New England Resource Center for Higher Education that enable college administrators to become more reflective about their practice and to conduct research that is rooted in practice. The think tanks are day-long seminars for chief student affairs officers, chief academic officers, associate academic…