Awareness of the three analytical perspectives on educational innovation leads to better understanding of educational change processes and better innovation strategies and policies. The three perspectives--technological, political, and cultural--are "screens" of facts, values, and presuppositions through which analysts view innovation.…

Prepared to stimulate discussion on how to design a Swedish policy in information science and technology, this report presents the state-of-the-art of this field as it pertains to the dissemination of scientific information and outlines a program for future research and development. The review portion examines systems for current information…

This paper discusses how an experimental design can be applied to a large-scale evaluation. The purpose of the study described is to assess the success of the National Science Foundation (NSF) in achieving its goal for five comprehensive projects. This paper is divided into four main sections: (1) design; (2) sampling procedures; (3) data…

Internal validity is described as a matter of how well a particular instance of data collection or generation can be described and explained. It is a property of the procedures used in the collection or generation of data. The notion of internal validity is examined in order to establish a method of quantitatively estimating it. A coefficient of…

Research in science teacher education does not appear to have made very much difference in the ways preservice and inservice science teacher education is conducted or in the ways participating teachers teach. This paper illustrates and suggests possible explanations for this state of affairs, and indicates research alternatives which seem to hold…

This self-instructional package includes learning objectives, definitions, exercises, and feedback for learning some basic concepts and skills involved in using computers for analyzing data and understanding basic research terminology. Learning activities are divided into four sections: research and research hypotheses; variables, cases, and…

The suitability of single subject designs for research on coping skills training is discussed. Such training programs teach the individual an active skill for dealing with anxiety-provoking situations. Several research strategies are reviewed, with a discussion of their major assumptions and their potential for testing for generalized effects: (1)…

The popularity of using qualitative, or ethnographic, research methods to improve educational practices is increasing. However, an examination of how research findings are translated into policy is necessary to assess accurately the extent to which this goal can be realized. This paper assesses the efficiency of four strategies for increasing…

By employing meta-analysis procedures to build on the reviews of Horwitz and Peterson, specific effects of open education are quantified and related to school and student characteristics. From the 45 studies located in ERIC, the Education Index, and Horwitz's monograph, student, setting, and research design characteristics were coded. Twenty-three…

NEW DIRECTIONS FOR RESEARCH MAY MORE CLEARLY REVEAL THE NATURE OF THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN AFFECTIVE VARIABLES AND INTELLECTUAL PERFORMANCE. ONE AFFECTIVE COMPONENT SHOULD NOT BE SINGLED OUT FOR MEASUREMENT. RATHER, A PATTERN OF DISPOSITIONS SHOULD BE DETERMINED AS A UNIT OF PREDICTION OF EFFECTIVE PERFORMANCE. VARIOUS COPING STYLES SHOULD BE…

This paper presents two extensions of the full-rank multivariate linear model that are particularly useful in multivariate analysis of covariance (MANCOVA) and repeated measurements designs. After a review of the basic full-rank model, an extension is described which allows restrictions of a more general nature. This model is useful in the…

A relationship between experimental and statistical controls is considered in an effort to show how this relationship affects the power of an experiment. Statistical rather than experimental controls are often used to reduce the effect of subjects at the extremes of individual difference. This results in attrition of actual experimental subjects.…

This paper focuses on theoretical and methodological problems in social psychological research on the culturally different. Major problems in using experimental approaches are discussed: (1) the reactive nature of the experiment; (2) selection bias; (3) experimenter bias; and (4) value and ethical problems. The field experiment and combined field…

The paper explains the design of a national survey which was intended to identify factors associated with variations in the properties and contents of individualized education programs (IEPs); provide descriptive information about the target population; the nature and setting in which special education services are provided to this population;…

One response to the large and rapidly growing number of legal cases with which nonlawyer researchers must deal is computerized legal data retrieval technology. LEXIS, an example of such technology, improves upon traditional research tools in two ways: it increases the speed with which researchers may discover relevant documents and, through its…