Comments on the ideas espoused by Smedslund (PS 522 552) in this issue. Agrees to the idea of spending more intellectual energy in distinguishing between a priori and empirical hypotheses but emphasizes that concepts are not always accurate reflections of reality and that even empirical disconfirmation of an a priori hypothesis sometimes can…

An understanding of where a user is in a research project (the research script) combined with an understanding of the discourse-level features of empirical abstracts (as revealed by lexical clues) can improve information retrieval. An information retrieval system which takes situational and linguistic factors into account is proposed. (47…

Several issues related to the design and reporting of results from the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) are discussed in the context of current expectations for the NAEP and its origins. These issues include: (1) content coverage and format; (2) estimation procedures; and (3) reporting problems. (SLD)

Collaborative relationships between researchers and resources from government, industry, and academia were studied through a survey of research into dental materials. The outcomes of research conducted under various arrangements by 386 targeted respondents were reviewed. Implications of the high rate of collaboration for both industry and academia…

Used structural equation modeling with latent variables to examine group differences and test competing models about cause-effect relationships in passive longitudinal designs. Within example based on three-wave longitudinal study of adolescents' alcohol use, assessed generalizability of measurement model and structural model across gender and…

Meta-analysis of 143 effect sizes in 43 studies of adventure programming for adolescents found an overall effect size of 0.31. Summary effect sizes of outcome categories differed significantly among categories, however. Effect size was related to program length and participant age but not to delinquent status. Discusses the lack of pertinent…

General issues raised by Gersten in his commentary on DeVries' article are discussed. These include the role of error, academic content, and direct instruction in constructivist education. His criticisms of sociomoral research by DeVries and others are emphatically refuted. (LB)

Why conclusions of many outcome evaluations do not stand up to scrutiny is discussed, drawing on examples from evaluations of drug abuse prevention programs. Factors that undermine these studies are largely the result of social-structural problems that influence the design and implementation of the research. (SLD)

Quantitative growth curve models for estimating individual developmental functions from various types of longitudinal data are discussed in the context of investigator assumptions and research design characteristics. Linear and nonlinear models that estimate growth curves are illustrated, and contrasted when they are fit to speech development…

Based on experiences in working with school district staff, suggestions for enhancing evaluation use through stakeholder involvement are discussed in terms of who should be involved, when involvement should occur, and how stakeholders should be involved via a dialogue-dependent process. (SLD)

Focuses on the relationship of music composition with specific learning styles. Emphasizes the development of a research model in which music composition was viewed as involving intuitive and rational musical abilities. Uses two learning-style inventories and a researcher-designed test of musical composition ability. (DB)

Maintains that economic research recently has been characterized by the development of increasingly sophisticated models of economics learning. Recommends that further application of the Survey on Economic Attitudes include factor analysis as an alternative approach to gain additional insights into affective economics learning. (CFR)

Evaluates the methodological quality of 39 studies of phonological-awareness interventions in children. Finds only seven studies met two-thirds or more of all the evaluative criteria (internal and external validity), although all of these investigations demonstrated at least one fatal flaw. Suggests improvements for future intervention research.…

Compares two groups of preschool children to assess the effect of children's counting ability on their ability to reason about numbers. Describes the research design and the set of expected possible outcomes. Reports results in light of these predictions, concluding that counting ability is not necessary for number-relevant operations. (DSK)

Learning-disabled high school students (N=104) with either adequate or inadequate self-concepts were compared. The adequate subgroup had statistically significant higher grades, teacher ratings, athletic competence, and global self-worth. The groups did not differ on socioeconomic status, intelligence, achievement, age at classification, extent of…