This content analysis study evaluated the research methods and statistical techniques employed in studies reported in the professional journal, "TECSE" (Topics in Early Childhood Special Education) between 1990 and 1993. Research articles comprised 37 percent of all articles (n=120) published during this period. The most frequently…

Given that theory is a crucial component of path analysis and that major theories in the social sciences either directly or by inference assume interaction, it appears that interaction has to be considered in path analytic models that reflect those theories. The use of interaction within the framework of path analytic methodology is investigated…

The objective of this investigation was to take a small data set that represents unbalanced factorial designs and explain by example how the variance is partitioned when using the various options from the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSSX) and Statistical Analysis System (SAS). That the unequal cell size analysis of variance…

Current omnibus procedures for the analysis of interaction effects in repeated measures designs which contain a grouping variable are known to be nonrobust to violations of multisample sphericity, particularly when group sizes are unequal. An alternative approach is to formulate a comprehensive set of contrasts on the data which probe the specific…

To assist journalism educators and legislators who wish to initiate passage of anti-Hazelwood laws, this paper reports on the first stage of a research project on nationwide efforts at getting state legislation passed to override the 1988 Supreme Court Hazelwood School District vs. Kuhlmeier decision. The laws of five states (Massachusetts,…

This paper presents a review of the literature on reliability in qualitative studies. Reliability is defined as the extent to which studies can be replicated, using the same methods, and getting the same results. It is the degree to which data are independent of the accidental circumstances of the research. The review includes the following three…

There are advantages to using a priori or planned comparisons rather than omnibus multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) tests followed by post hoc or a posteriori testing. A small heuristic data set is used to illustrate these advantages. An omnibus MANOVA test was performed on the data followed by a post hoc test (discriminant analysis). A…

This handbook is devoted to the process of teacher research. It shows teacher-researchers how they can pursue their research activities systematically and carefully and provides a number of research techniques, methods for categorizing data, and suggestions for publishing research. The chapters are: (1) "Try To Love the Questions Themselves:…

This report contains the results of an evaluation of coverage issues regarding the 1994 Federal Libraries and Information Centers Survey. The objectives of this evaluation were to determine the accuracy and completeness of the final survey frame and to analyze the criteria used to classify federal library facilities as in-scope and out-of-scope.…

Many organizations and agencies collect data related to postsecondary education. To improve the coordination of data definitions and surveys, guidelines have been prepared to define the best survey practices for data collectors and data providers. The first section of this document, "Best Practices for Data Collectors," covers the…

Theories concerning cognitive development or complexity include one developed by W. G. Perry, Jr., and his colleagues (1970). Research related to Perry's scheme is analyzed to suggest ways by which this particular theory can be validated. The first part of the paper describes Perry's scheme and assumptions of cognitive development theories in…

Media effects should not be thought of as either isomorphic or fragmentary. Instead, the similarities and differences between them should be studied. This approach would offer the potential to determine not only what the media effects are, but how they occur. This is possible through the discovery of patterns in research theories and findings. To…

This paper presents a mixed-method evaluation design which utilizes concept mapping along with questionnaire and interviews. Recent developments in mixed-method evaluation have helped identify five purposes which mixed-method evaluation designs tend to serve. These are triangulation, complementarity, development, initiation, and expansion. The…

Numerous studies have analyzed the determinants of early retirement or retirement on time among older men and women. However, not many studies of the determinants of retirement have analyzed racial and gender differences, both between and within groups. Using data from the 1968-1987 interview waves of the Panel Studies of Income Dynamics, this…

A framework is presented for use by the Board on International Comparative Studies in Education (BICSE) in advising the National Center for Education Statistics and the National Science Foundation on United States participation in international comparative studies of education. The framework may also be helpful in identifying areas of research…