Discusses the need in designing educational studies to give more attention to recognizing the universe of generalization and to incorporate into the design a variable that represents the universe. Data analytic techniques should treat the levels of this variable as randomly selected from the universe. (Author/JEG)

Focuses on the various designs utilized in North Central Association elementary evaluations. As the accreditation program continues it will be critical to have an ongoing assessment of the appropriateness of the "Policies and Standards", the structure of self-study formats, the procedures used in visitation and the quality of the follow-up program…

Examines the influences on research design selection and success in competition of 22 finalists at the 44th International Science and Engineering Fair. Findings show students are largely accurate in self-reports of design and interact with mentors on several levels outside influences reflect shifts in motivational orientation and success…

Teachers are advised that analysis of covariance structures can be used to obtain estimates of variance components for use in generalizability analyses. Generalizability theory provides a flexible and practical framework for examining the psychometric properties of testing situations. This article illustrates the approach for fully crossed…

The relative merits of two prominent lines of inquiry into the linkage between organizational culture and effectiveness (culture type and strong culture hypotheses) were studied with 334 colleges and universities. Findings support both approaches and suggest that alternative culture types are differentially effective on different performance…

Although some argue that randomization of treatments or interventions violates accepted norms of conduct of social science research, this article makes the case that there is a moral imperative for the conduct of randomized experiments in crime and justice studies. (SLD)

Researchers recruiting samples of children through schools typically face considerable challenges in obtaining completed consent forms from parents. Describes a set of procedures used to obtain active parental consent for child participation that resulted in a 95% return rate of consent forms. Rates of return were similar across schools that…

Reports on the use of the tailored design method (TDM) to achieve high survey response in two separate studies of the dissemination of Treatment Improvement Protocols (TIPs). Findings from these two studies identify six factors may have influenced nonresponse, and show that use of TDM does not, in itself, guarantee a high response rate. (SLD)

To improve vocational psychology research, researchers should reconsider the meaning of career, adopt longitudinal designs for research on career development, and concentrate first on developmental processes and then on the context of careers. (SK)

Presents both a conceptual model (which partitions family data into individual, dyadic, and family effects and permits examination of several types of interdependence between family members) and an analytical method (confirmatory factor analysis) that can be used in the evaluation of round-robin family research data. (SR)

This article provides a brief introduction to the RATE Project. The project seeks to gather accurate information about teacher education, establish trend lines and document changes, study the structures and processes involved in teacher education, and obtain reliable information upon which program development and change initiatives can be based.…

Focuses on the experimental designs and methodology of 15 studies, most of which used only part of the methodology for the experimental analysis of behavior. Argues that the failure to fully use available research technology may have contributed to researchers' failure to make experimental contact with the definition of reinforcement. (RH)

Develops random-effects probit model for case in which outcome of interest is series of correlated binary responses, obtained as product of longitudinal response process where individual is repeatedly classified on binary outcome variable or in multilevel or clustered problems in which individuals within groups are considered to share…

Many different methods are termed qualitative research. A continuum of research methods avoids the need to classify research as either scientific or naturalistic. Each method may be assessed in terms of degree of constraints on possible outputs and degree of constraints on antecedent variables. (SK)

A nursing education program uses group projects to resolve the problem of whether the purpose is to teach students to read research or to conduct it. The project approach focuses on types of research decisions rather than results, giving students insight into the "hidden" research process. (SK)