Researchers who undertake the evaluation of social action programs face several hazards, among which is the politicization of evaluation. Several alternatives in research methodology are suggested, as well as implications from the evaluations themselves. (DM)

A teacher, an aide, and four students from Manhattan High (Kansas) set out to defeat a bill to allow a young man to homestead an island important for its overwintering bald eagle habitat. Through research, lobbying the state legislature, and help from the National Audubon Society, the bill is defeated. (LC)

Reports on a research project in which students read books considered to be funny by media specialists and rated them for their humor. Presents a list of the books read and the ratings provided for each by the students. (FL)

The Canada-Asia Partnership used participatory action research to promote participation of marginalized communities in development. It was hampered by the positivist research model dominating academic institutions and lack of clarity and consensus among stakeholders. (SK)

Includes sections written by seminar participants: "Prologue,""Participatory Action Research (PAR)--What Is It?" and "Overall Narrative" (Greenwood); "Gender and Issues of Power" (Matthews, Strubel); "Issues in PAR Pedagogy" (Greenwood); "Participatory Evaluation" (Thomas);…

Discusses and defines participatory or user-design in the fields of instructional design and performance technology and describes systemic change as a context for user-design. Topics include stakeholder involvement, ethnographic field methods, cooperative design, action research-based user-design, user-design decision guidelines, and leadership.…

Addresses methods of assessing social validity in interventions with individuals having behavioral disorders. Discusses three areas: (1) specific behavioral goals; (2) the social appropriateness of the procedures; and (3) the social importance of the outcomes. Issues of validity and utility are also raised. The paper concludes that application of…

This paper describes development of a study that includes participatory action research, specifically the establishment of a family advisory committee. The study involved a survey of Massachusetts families of children with disabilities. Suggestions for establishing and integrating the committee into the research enterprise are offered, as are…

Suggests that Spanish teachers consider a new role as researchers of their own professional environment through a number of successful research techniques and strategies. The process of teacher-initiated research begins with the description of realistic teaching and learning situations in which a teacher could conduct research in the Spanish…

This volume reflects the impact of postmodern critical thinking on models of human service practice. It demonstrates the values of practice informed by critical theory but does not present adequate empirical support for its effectiveness and Stringer's model is not illustrated through a case study. (SLD)

The ideological divide in adult education extends to the issues of knowledge production and the authority to conduct research. Action research is a collaborative method involving practitioners in knowledge production. It can demystify research and help bridge the basic-applied gap. (SK)

Investigates whether student interviews provide teachers with a more detailed, accurate, and complete picture of children's mathematical understanding and whether this knowledge helps teachers improve the way they teach mathematics. Shows how to use student interviews as a guide to further instruction. (KHR)

This action research project targeted teacher absenteeism at professional development events, findings no significant patterns in time of day, location, workshop topic, and teaching level. Instead, a pattern of chronic absenteeism for some individuals was noted. An action plan included increased marketing, communication with individual no-show…

Explores the theoretical strands being combined in community-based research--charity service learning, social justice service learning, action research, and participatory research. Shows how different models of community-based research, based in different theories of society and different approaches to community work, may combine or conflict. (EV)