It is recommended that student financial aid administrators undertake more research to improve their knowledge and control of their programs, understand the effects of policies, and help correct beliefs and attitudes. Choosing a research topic, creating credibility, and writing a complete report are discussed. (MSE)

Discusses the social structure of scientific communication and considers the opportunities and challenges offered by the increased use of electronic networks. Topics addressed include the research process and the role of communication, assumptions about the effects of electronic networks, benefits and problems of networking, and issues related to…

A discussion of focus groups in college marketing planning looks at the applicability of the approach, describes important considerations in focus group research, and provides step-by-step guidelines for conducting such groups. The technique's advantages are illustrated in an actual case in which the approach saved valuable institutional…

This paper reviews research designs and strategies found in 63 reports evaluating effectiveness of treatment of articulation or phonological disorders, published in the 1970s and 1980s. Characteristics analyzed include type of disorder, type of reliability, follow-up phase, subject selection and description, type of dependent variable, age levels,…

Compared the demographic characteristics of and the special education services received by Illinois children who are in both foster care and special education programs, with those of children in only one of these systems. Presents information on the handicaps of foster children served by the special education system. (SM)

Argues that Jensen's article contains an inaccurate and misleading account of Spearman's work and distorts the basic concepts of factor analysis. The target article has failed in all its main objectives; its major failing is a result of the irrelevance of factor analysis to the study of group differences. (SLD)

Examines meta analysis as a technique for reviewing literature, with a particular focus on the literature of instructional development. An example using meta analyses to study mastery learning is presented, and a summary of meta analytic studies of instructional variable effects on student achievement is included. (38 references) (LRW)

Describes a study that examined articles in the "Journal of the American Society for Information Science" from 1972 to 1974 to determine the relationship between funding and other variables for publications in information science. Other variables examined included the subject of the article, institutional affiliation of authors, and…

Discusses issues involved with selecting a methodology and data analysis technique for studying divergent views of the family. Qualitative and quantitative methods, and linear and nonlinear models, are described. Statistical and theoretical issues regarding the use of discrepancy scores are examined. (BC)

Develops a typology of learning skills congruent with the learning style descriptions of experiential learning theory. Describes the Learning Skills Profile (LSP), an assessment instrument designed to assess learning skills. Suggests the LSP for providing personal and organizational feedback on skills. Suggests that the typology allows both…

A study used a multivariate approach to assessing college departmental excellence. Factor analysis identified three potentially useful factor clusters ("faculty research,""input," and "student") and seven indicators based on those clusters. Indicators combining faculty research and input and combining all three clusters were found to be the best…

Reports the results of two formative research studies conducted during the design process for a new, portable trackball-like computer input device for small children. The findings are discussed in terms of the design of appropriate interfaces for young children, and what can be learned from formative research on products in development. (25…

A proposed solution for the age x cohort x period issue in lifespan research uses all data, even with missing cells; can be used for repeated measures designs or designs in which new subjects are measured at each period; and allows assessment of each main effect and two-way interaction. (SLD)

Implications of the Colorado Social Health Survey for indirect needs assessment in mental health planning and administration are discussed. The survey model parameters' generalizability to other areas of the nation should be investigated, as well as improved ways of linking specific populations to needs, preferences, and outcome dimensions. (SLD)

Although higher education institutions dislike rankings published in the mass media, they like the attention the rankings create and prefer to be included rather than excluded. Common criticisms of the methodology include emphasis on inappropriate criteria, unfair comparison of private and public institutions, faulty assumptions, inaccurate data,…