Summarizes themes of articles in this special issue: developmental research must be longitudinal and would benefit from interdisciplinary collaboration; career development research should incorporate both personal and contextual variables; and designs and analyses that provide normative information but obscure interactions among these variables…

This paper demonstrates that pretest-posttest designs provide more information than is commonly assumed. What is typically overlooked is that even when the posttest is the outcome measure, such designs also reveal if different interventions or experiences account for variations in pretest-posttest gains. (Contains 12 references.) (GCP)

Points out major problems with the scientific method as a model for learning about methodology in science and suggests teaching about the scientists' toolbox to remedy problems with the conventional scientific method. (KHR)

Provides guidelines for conducting representative case research (i.e., research that examines response of specific individuals to events, situations, circumstances, or conditions important in human life). Describes phases of investigation. Concludes representative case research offers a way of knowing persons holistically through application of…

Examines two metaphors for reading research approaches: the "vertical grave metaphor" and the "architectural design metaphor." Claims that while "vertical grave" researchers only add to the body of knowledge by publishing articles, "architectural" researchers actually deal with real world problems. Notes…

Linear equating methods for the common-item non-equivalent populations design were compared when true-score correlation between the test and anchor was less than unity. Scores from two groups of approximately 300 examinees illustrated three methods: (1) the Tucker equating method; (2) the Angoff-Levine method; and (3) the Congeneric-Levine method.…

Advocates the traditional controlled message, crossed design for the study of language variables in communication research. Analyzes and rejects arguments (presented in the article, "Messages as Replications: Toward a Message-Centered Design Strategy," in the same issue) in support of the multiple-message design. (SR)

Advocates the multiple-message design (message replication within experiments) for message research in communication. Analyzes and rejects arguments (presented in the article, "The Design and Analysis of Language Experiments in Communication," in the same issue) in support of the single-message design. (SR)

Articles on equating test forms in this issue are reviewed and discussed. The results of these papers collectively indicate that matching on the anchor test does not result in more accurate equating. Implications for research are discussed. (SLD)

Describes representative single-subject research designs and related statistical procedures for group counselors to study the effects of interventions in groups. Concludes that despite limitations, single-subject designs are useful for obtaining information about intervention effects with groups in direct service contexts that can be compared to…

Counters David R. Seibold, John E. Hunter, Franklin J. Boster's criticisms (same issue) of Burleson's et al. original article in "Human Communication Research" (v14, n4), "Item Desirability Effects in Compliance-Gaining Research: Seven Studies Documenting Artifacts." (MS)

Changes made in 1981 to the Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC) program under the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act were evaluated. Multiple quasi-experimental designs (interrupted time series, non-equivalent comparison groups, and simple pre-post designs) used to address evaluation questions illustrate the issues faced by evaluators in…

The author attempts to synthesize some issues concerning adult education research. Topics include (1) the purpose of research, (2) epistemological assumptions being made by the researcher, (3) the politics and ethics of the research, (4) research design issues, and (5) consistency with the researcher's philosophy of adult education. (CH)

Notes that the essence of the study that follows is its attention to the ways in which competing cultural viewpoints, competing possible identities, are played out in practice. Comments that by providing a detailed description of the researcher's role, the study exemplifies the reflexiveness that many see as a hallmark of practice perspectives.…

Lays out a systematic analysis of different experimental designs for message effects research. Discusses advantages of designs that include replications. Considers the issue of a fixed- versus random-effects analysis, and argues that replication factors should be treated as random except in very unusual circumstances. Examines in detail two…