To examine the effects of the language experience approach (LEA) on beginning reading achievement, a study analyzed five projects conducted as part of the United States Office of Education first grade studies and 32 additional studies comparing basal reading approaches to LEA. Using two methods of quantitative synthesis (vote-counting and…

This study examined the relationship among accountability, efficacy, and organizational effectiveness by integrating findings from 17 research and development reports on Management by Objectives (MBO), an intervention that incorporates elements and processes of both accountability (goal-setting, measuring and monitoring, feedback) and efficacy…

This paper summarizes and analyzes data from studies of differential validity and differential prediction for blacks versus whites and females versus males. Forty studies on racial differences and 53 on gender differences were selected from searches of the ERIC, PsychInfo, and Dissertation Abstracts International databases; Buros' Mental…

The 594 studies referenced in this volume, the first of a two-volume set, synthesize reading comprehension research conducted from 1974 to 1984. The 12 chapters cover the following topics: (1) the necessity for both quantitative and qualitative meta-analysis for a complete state-of-the-art understanding of any domain, (2) the background of the…

A meta-analysis of eight studies, involving 192 subjects, was performed to ascertain the efficacy of hospitalization of children with nonorganic failure to thrive. Hospitalization was found to approximately double the probability of catch-up physical growth for the children, but psychosocial development was only modestly hastened by…

The literature review organizes research of the National Technical Institute for the Deaf concerning characteristics of successfully mainstreamed hearing-impaired students in terms of: family background; previous educational experience; cognitive skills; motivation; speech, hearing, and communication skills; previous course grades, lecture…

The Carl D. Perkins Vocational and Applied Technology Education Amendments of 1998 extended support for "career guidance and academic counseling." A wide variety of such interventions are in existence. Since the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 emphasizes evidence-based education, it is important to examine the research to determine the…

This report presents a meta-analysis of research on teaching expressive writing to students with learning disabilities. Virtually all the interventions analyzed were multifaceted and involved students writing everyday as part of the curriculum. The meta-analysis identified several themes critical to effective writing instruction: (1) adherence to…

There are about 80,000 public school principals in the United States today. The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates a 10 percent employment increase in educational administration jobs between now and 2008. Numerous articles and studies written on the principal shortage conclude that qualified, experienced principals are getting harder to find,…

This volume on the identification of learning disabilities (LD) offers chapters that provide comprehensive reviews of the research evidence underlying different aspects of LD and was the product of a 2001 general conference followed up by a small research forum. Contributors include researchers, parents, practitioners, and administrators. A final…

Describes results of a meta-analysis that was conducted to determine whether there was a difference among the responses of secondary urban, rural, and suburban students to computer- assisted instruction. Discusses effect sizes and comparing mean effect size by educational setting. (LRW)

Factors associated with children's attitudes towards persons with physical and intellectual disabilities were examined in a meta-analysis of 20 studies spanning the years 1990-2000. Factors included: attitudinal components, type of disability, age and gender of respondents, and role of inclusion. Children preferred target children without…

Performed meta-analysis upon eight California school-based risk reduction programs designed to deter fourth through eighth grade students from the use of tobacco, alcohol, and other drugs. Found that information-focused interventions had more impact upon knowledge but less upon attitudes and behavior whereas alternative interventions had less…

Results of a quantitative analysis of empirical evidence related to parent-preschooler reading support the hypothesis that parent-preschooler reading is related to outcome measures such as language growth, emergent literacy, and reading achievement. Book reading apparently affects acquisition of the written language register. (SLD)

Ten observational studies indicate that condoms help prevent human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, but research on barriers and spermicides is lacking. Given the effectiveness of female-controlled methods in preventing other sexually transmitted diseases, more research into protection from HIV infection by use of diaphragms and spermicides…