Two hundred Michigan principals were sent a personality inventory. There was no significant difference in response rate between administrators who did or did not receive cover letters; but response rate was higher when the principals' secretaries received preletters soliciting their help in getting the administrator to respond. (SJL)

Different chi-square statistics reported in many-faceted Rasch model analysis are presented and interpreted using facets of subjects, judges, sessions, topics, and tasks for 74 subjects. Chi-square statistics are useful for determining the significance and interaction effects of facets and identifying adjustments to subjects' calibrated logit…

Research articles (n=174) published in the "Journal of Learning Disabilities" from 1989 through 1993 were analyzed and coded by type of research design and statistical technique used. Eighty percent of the research designs were nonintervention methods; 55% of all statistical techniques were coded as primary, 32% were intermediate, and…

Used Monte Carlo methods to examine the Type I error rates for randomization tests applied to single-case data arising from ABAB designs involving random, systematic, or response-guided assignment of interventions. Discusses conditions under which Type I error rate is controlled or is not. (SLD)

Sets out definitions of expert found in three studies: situated effectiveness, emergent measure, and constrained elaboration. Outlines recommendations for selecting expert teachers to participate in research studies. (Contains 18 references.) (SK)

Introduces the articles of this special issue focusing on randomized field trials in criminology. In spite of the overall lack of randomized field trials in criminology, some agencies and individuals are able to mount an impressive number of field trials, and these articles focus on their experiences. (SLD)

Discusses advantages of randomized experiments and key issues raised in this special issue. Focuses on growth and decrease in the use of randomized experiments by the California Youth Authority, the U.S. National Institute of Justice, and the British Home Office. Calls for increased recognition of the importance of randomized experiments. (SLD)

Describes the randomized field trials conducted by the California Youth Authority in the 1960s and 1970s and discusses why such rigorous tests were used and why they eventually came to be used less often. (SLD)

Discusses the contrast between the frequency of randomized clinical trials in the health sciences and the relative famine of such studies in criminology. Attributes this difference to the contexts in which research is done and the difference in the status of situational research in the two disciplines. (SLD)

Business educators can develop a sustainable research program if they grasp what constitutes well-designed research, recognize the sources of research ideas, know how to refine research ideas, understand how to make a research program integrated and cohesive, realize the importance of replication, and enhance their research productivity using a…

Gives an overview of three of the myths that F. N. Kerlinger (1959, 1960) identified as pervading educational research. Explores the myths of methods, practicality, and statistics, and analyzes the degree to which they have been overcome or still exist. (SLD)

The failure of many school psychology research articles to specify the sex of participants is a potentially serious problem. Without this information, one cannot ascertain to whom results should generalize or whether the sex of participants affects the variable under investigation. It is recommended that researchers routinely specify how many of…

The article proposes a sequential alternating treatments design requiring that two treatments be initially implemented in a random or counterbalanced fashion followed by a sequential change in one or both treatments across settings, subjects, or tasks. This design is appropriate when it is not feasible to obtain a traditional baseline condition.…

Introduces statistical methods for evaluating differences in patterns of time to response between two subject groups to determine better therapy. Uses data from hypothetical clinical trial to illustrate two elementary methods for analyzing survival data. Discusses generalization of methods to incorporate covariates. Concludes with general…

Presents working principles for collaborative classroom research, involving negotiating access to and exit from schools; restructuring meaning rather than judging practice; perceiving the research subject/teacher as "knower" and collaborator; maintaining openness of purpose, judgment, and interpretation; permitting multiple interpretations of…