Educators have expressed growing dissatisfaction with common practice in educational research. Discussed is whether or not research studies should be rationalized, empirical-analytic, interpretive, or subjective. In order to be useful, all research need not be rationalized and need not attempt to verify scientific theory. (CS)

Discusses simulation program to aid in the design of enzyme kinetic experimentation (includes sample runs). Concentration versus time profiles of any subset or all nine states of reactions can be displayed with/without simulated instrumental noise, allowing the user to estimate the practicality of any proposed experiment given known instrument…

Several measures of the speed of information processing were related to ability factors derived from the Cattell-Horn theory of fluid and crystallized intelligence. Correlations among the ability measures, among the information processing measures, and between the two domains were analyzed using confirmatory factor analysis. (Author/PN)

Article focuses on planning process used by staff of State University of New York College at Brockport library to develop and implement a user study measuring effectiveness of library's services. The planning model, research committee, sampling design, questionnaire development, and implementation and evaluation of survey are discussed. Twenty-one…

Meta-analysis of Title I program evaluations shows the norm-referenced model overestimates positive effectiveness; while the regression-discontinuity design underestimates it. Potential biases include residual regression artifacts, attrition and time-of-testing problems in the norm-referenced design, and assignment, measurement, and data…

A study investigated the hypothesis that poor comprehension or recall of task demands, rather than a putative lack of goal directedness, is a possible source of learning-disabled children's poor performance of experimental tasks. Clear instructions substantially facilitated performance by both normally achieving and learning disabled children of…

A user satisfaction study undertaken at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign library to demonstrate and analyze an application of Kantor branching analysis of user frustration monitored direct and partially controlled user access to materials. Satisfaction rates and causes of user frustration are discussed. Eleven references and user group…

Presents several significant issues in science policy for the field of aging. Discusses the relationship between the public, funding agencies, and researchers as well as the setting of priorities, the independence of scientists, and the translation of research into policy and practice. (Author)

Presents a taxonomy of influences on decision making in mass media. Illustrates the use of the taxonomy and research strategy in a quantitative analysis of influences on the decision autonomy of reporters. Results indicate that reporters' experience plays the most important role in explaining their story selection/content autonomy. (PD)

This paper poses a research question about how a person's work experience affects his or her earnings and shows how the Cumulative Experience Method (CEM) can provide an answer to the question using all available information in a longitudinal data set. (Author/GDC)

A Type VI error results from inconsistency between the researchers' question of interest and the statistical procedures employed to analyze the data. An example of a research problem is analyzed to show the increase in statistical power resulting from improved research design, using multiple regression instead of analysis of variance. (CTM)

Illustrates simple, inexpensive procedures for involving readers in decisions about which comics and light features to include in a newspaper. (RL)

Winne and Walsh's Reanalysis (EJ 229 157) of Gauthier and Yarworth's study of self-concept and participation in high school activities (EJ 189 606) is addressed, particularly with respect to the statistical techniques used. The intentions of the original article are also clarified. (GDC)

Articles on attitudes of rehabilitation service providers were reviewed for: (1) attitudes toward disabled people; (2) correlates of attitudes; (3) attitude changes; (4) attitude and outcome; (5) attitudes toward other team members. Much of the research was unsatisfactory from design and sampling points of view. Recommendations are made. (Author)

Qualitative anthropological research on formal and informal child care arrangements is lacking. Research topics should include: informal arrangements such as babysitting and sibling care; comparative ethnographies of different types of centers; centers' effects on children's experiences; staff-parent interaction; and the effects of government…