Longitudinal research demonstrates that: (1) initial consensual goals are formalized incrementally over time; (2) directions of these changes are influenced by constituencies participating in policy formation as well as broader social movements; and (3) evidence for longitudinal implementation studies needs to be garnered from a confluence of…

Details the kinds of data and data sources used in "A Study of Schooling," the limitations of these data, examples of research questions explored, and the intentions of the researchers during analysis and interpretation of the data. (Author/IRT)

A statistical test for analysis of repeated measures is presented. It is shown that an appropriate chi-square statistic can be computed for related measures by taking account of the covariance among trials in computing a variance for the chi square statistic. (Author/JKS)

The U.S. Civil Service Commission conducted three criterion-related validity studies for its PACE Test. Three occupations were examined using a specially designed supervisory rating form, job information test, and work sample. A computer analyzed task inventory was the keystone of the study. (Editor/SJL)

"Five roles are considered by which systematic, quantified field research can augment controlled laboratory experimentation in terms of increasing the validity of laboratory studies." Advocates that comparative psychologists should "take more initiative in designing, executing, and interpreting our experiments with regard to the natural history of…

A review of qualitative methods used in a predominantly quantitative evaluation indicates a variety of roles for such a mixing of methods, including framing and revising research questions, assessing the validity of measures and adaptations to program implementation, and gauging the degree of uncertainty and generalizability of conclusions.…

Asserts that this book, drawn from a 1993 conference on memory development, accurately reflects the contemporary status of the field in two ways: (1) its research is matured and specialized; and (2) there are no major theoretical disputes, nor a widely shared new approach, although using microgenetic designs to study cognitive strategy choice…

The utility of the three-form design coupled with maximum likelihood methods for estimation of missing values was evaluated. Simulation studies demonstrate that maximum likelihood estimation and multiple imputation methods produce the most efficient and least biased estimates of variances and covariances for normally distributed and slightly…

Describes the history of the random experiment in the Home Office in the United Kingdom and demonstrates that research and the conduct of research is not an altogether rational process and that fashion, personality, and politics play a role in research policy and methodology choice. (SLD)

This article reviewed 55 studies to examine trends in interventions to improve the academic functioning of students with emotional disturbance. Results of descriptive analysis indicated: lack of demographic information; settings usually special education classrooms; predominantly single-subject designs; lack of treatment fidelity data; lack of…

Views intercoder reliability as a sampling problem for content analyses. Develops a formula for generating sample sizes needed to have valid reliability estimates. Suggests steps for reporting reliability. (TB)

Presents guidelines for supervising an undergraduate student doing research, including a sample contract set up between the student and the supervisor. The contract may state the research topic, objective, procedures, laboratory requirements, costs, schedule, additional projects, and grading criteria. Other suggestions include scheduled meetings…

This model for teaching quantitative research depicts five processes: build knowledge, formulate hypotheses, develop measures, pick analytical technique, and plan data collection. Exercises designed to integrate these elements are described: diagraming hypotheses, mapping measures onto constructs, matching analysis to hypotheses, matching analysis…

Discussion of the use of surveys as a research tool focuses on the value of library surveys. Two types of surveys are described, the descriptive survey and survey research; and improving the quality of survey research is discussed, including planning, sample size, data collection techniques, and methods of statistical analysis. (18 references)…

A methodology for determining the optimal number of observations to use in a measurement design when resource constraints are imposed is presented. Two- and three-facet designs are outlined. Parallel closed form formulae can easily be determined for other designs. (TJH)