This article focuses on futures-oriented methodologies that can be used in applied vocational education research. After a discussion of several conceptual issues, methodologies having major implications for applied research are identified. These methodologies are compared and contrasted to determine which one might be most useful for a particular…

Discusses Ward's article on the potential usefulness of social science researchers for government agencies' analysis of public opinion. Emphasizes the need to gather representative data and suggests that researchers can take a proactive role by using a theory of social behavior such as Bronfenbrenner's. (CB)

Describes elements to look for when reading four identifiable sections of a research report: background and literature review, methodology and procedures, analysis, findings or summary. Literature review as prologue to author's argument, choices in design of a study, research participants, choices involved in analysis, and implications of findings…

Examines the psychometric properties of two procedures for reducing data from the Brazelton Neonatal Behavioral Assessment Scale: factor and cluster analysis. The sample consisted of 85 male and 77 female newborns. (RH)

Outlines the recent transition, within educational research, from conflict to cooperation between quantitative and qualitative approaches. Asserts that compatibility is based on a confusion between method as technique and method as logic of justification. Argues that the claim of compatibility cannot be sustained and blocks an interesting and…

Nine steps are reviewed in the decision to buy computers and software for schools: define your needs, compile detailed requirements listing, develop a request for proposal, identify vendors, submit request for proposal to various vendors, compare results, identify several possible systems, set up live demonstrations of software and hardware,…

Describes four experiments of conditions under which irregular spelling or pronunciation influence two reading tasks--naming and lexical decision. Concludes that such irregularities only influence the reading of lower frequency words and that recognition of a large class of higher frequency words is insensitive to irregularities of spelling or…

Examines the two-finger extension as a hand shape in sign language by analyzing data on 10 different sign languages. The analysis shows that a theory of marking can be developed for sign languages along the same lines as those used for spoken languages--only the particular physiology is different. (SED)

To provide a model for analyzing the educational experiences of high school students, this article presents a profile of academic, vocational, and miscellaneous courses offered, and their enrollment, in four Nebraska school districts. Statistics are presented for subject areas within the above categories. Suggestions for applying the model are…

Computer generated data representative of 16 Auto Regressive Integrated Moving Averages (ARIMA) models were used to compare the results of interrupted time-series analysis using: (1) the known model identification, (2) an assumed (l,0,0) model, and (3) an assumed (3,0,0) model as an approximation to the General Transformation approach. (Author/BW)

Existing data on illegal immigration in the U.S. is inadequate. The limited availability of macrodata on the size of the annual flows and of the accumulated stock of individuals as well as of microdata on their influence on selected labor markets has been used to forestall policy reform efforts. (Author/RDN)

Describes aspects of qualitative research having the potential of providing guidance to change agents in designing effective strategies to bring about desired changes in science education. A discursive approach involving the method of collecting and simultaneously analyzing data ("grounded theory") is described. (Author/JN)

Repeated measures designs have traditionally been analyzed by the univariate mixed model approach, in which the repeated measures effect is tested against an error term based on the subject by treatment interaction. This paper considers an extension of this analysis to designs in which the individual repeated measures are multivariate. (Author/JKS)

Decomposable models, which allow for the interdependence of structure among observable variables, are described. Each model is fully characterized by a set of conditional interdependence restrictions and can be visualized with an undirected as well as a special type of directed graph. (Author/JKS)

Discusses current practices for statistical assessments of employment discrimination and suggests nonstatistical techniques that can be used to aid in interpreting results of statistical analyses. The techniques incorporate principles of Boolean algebra and allow holistic comparison of categories of similarly situated individuals. (CMG)