A metanalysis of studies showed that ethnic minorities prefer ethnically similar counselors; however, these preferences were influenced by the cultural affiliation of the participants and the research methods used. More precise methods need to be developed to determine the degree to which ethnic minorities' preferences for ethnically-similar…

A meta-analysis of the difficulty and discrimination of the "none-of-the-above" (NOTA) test option was conducted with 12 articles (20 effect sizes) for difficulty and 7 studies (11 effect sizes) for discrimination. Findings indicate that using the NOTA option does not result in items of lesser quality. (SLD)

Effects of violating the independence assumption when combining correlation coefficients in a meta-analysis were studied. This Monte-Carlo simulation varied sample size, predictor number, population intercorrelation among predictors, and population correlation between predictors and criterion. Combining statistics from nonindependent data in a…

Implications of metanalytic results from Monte Carlo studies of the robustness of the F test in the one- and two-factor fixed effects analysis of variance (ANOVA) models and Monte Carlo results for the B. L. Welch (1947) and Kruskal-Wallis (1952) tests are discussed. (SLD)

Combining information to estimate standardized partial regression coefficients in a linear model is discussed. A combined estimate obtained from the pooled correlation matrix is proposed, and its large sample distribution is obtained. The method is generalized to handle a random effects model in which correlation parameters vary across studies.…

This paper provides a brief description of meta-analysis geared toward readers with limited statistics experience beyond an introductory course. The advantages and disadvantages of meta-analysis and its application in early childhood special education research are noted. (JDD)

Review of 48 articles and books on attention deficit disorder (ADD) found a total of 69 characteristics and 38 causes cited, evidencing no clearcut pattern for identifying the condition and little agreement for what causes ADD. The label appears to have limited value for communication, planning, decision making, or research efforts. (Author/DB)

The use of p-values in combining results of studies often involves studies that are potentially aberrant. This paper proposes a combined test that permits trimming some of the extreme p-values. The trimmed statistic is based on an inverse cumulative normal transformation of the ordered p-values. (SLD)

Discusses the relationship of ideology, social theory, critical analysis, hegemony, and objectivity in the work of educational historians. Comments that the training of educational historians often neglects intensive ideological analysis of historical research. Argues that study of historiographical methodology and consciousness of its dimensions…

Multivocal literatures are comprised of all accessible writings on a common topic and embody the views of diverse authors. The exploratory case study method is proposed as a way to ensure rigor in reviews of such literatures because it addresses problems associated with the selective use of data. (SLD)

Reviews synthesis as an important task of evaluation, putting evidence together for a coherent assessment. Types of synthesis are described from the case of two variables to more complex situations, ending with metanalysis. Syntheses help identify common patterns and regularities and can help progress toward positive social change. (SLD)

Metaanalysis of 27 studies found overall correlation between interest congruence and job/academic satisfaction was not significant. Methodologically weakest studies yielded strongest correlations. No significant effects appeared for type of congruence measure, gender, Holland type, or academic versus job setting. (SK)

Meta-analysis of five studies advocating nutrition education for pregnant women led to recommendations for research: (1) define nutrition education to aid replication; (2) describe the intervention thoroughly; (3) use experimental designs; (4) collect follow-up data; and (5) describe baseline demographic, behavioral, and health characteristics of…

A meta-analysis of 268 studies suggested a deficit in subjects with mental retardation (compared to controls without mental retardation) across 12 categories of learning tasks, a relative deficit which remained, after training, across 7 categories of strategies. When strategy training was evaluated, the effect size was 0.701, which compares…

Used meta-analysis to synthesize results of 24 studies (based on 20 distinct data sets) relating quality of working alliance (WA) to therapy outcome. Found moderate but reliable association between good WA and positive therapy outcome. WA quality was most predictive of treatment outcomes based on clients' assessments, less so of therapists'…