Relates how scholarly publishing in Western Europe feeds into North America. Discusses globalization, regionalism, and particularism; new models and research methodology; Biblio-Darwinism (survival of the fittest publishing languages) and the language of the imprint; differing academic infrastructures of Europe; booming scholarly-title production;…

Discusses the strategic importance of institutional research in open universities in order to stay competitive with other more traditional universities. Suggests that a wide range of staff should be encouraged to conduct research based on reflective practice and emphasizes the need to conform to appropriate methodological and ethical standards.…

Presents an evaluation of a Spanish government program on environmental education that aimed to change the habits of the local population. Finds that common understanding of environmental education has changed in the local population though in a different sense than was expected. Argues that the relationship of social groups toward environmental…

Contends that arts education advocacy statements should be consistent and representative. Argues for generalizable and reliable arts education research that uses a variety of methodologies and examines more than instrumental outcomes. Discusses the ends advocacy and research serve in arts education policy and curriculum and provides…

Discusses new strategies for conceptualizing teacher effectiveness at the elementary/secondary levels, to be used as a basis for improving the usefulness of research on teacher effectiveness. The aim is to shift away from one-dimensional assessment of individual teachers toward a multidimensional approach that can inform improvement of both…

Presents a humorous treatment of the "sessio taurino" (or humanistic inquiry) technique for describing changes in technological models. The fundamental tool of "sessio taurino" is a loosely-structured event known as the session, which is of indeterminate length, involves a flexible number of participants, and utilizes a…

Proposes a model of document selection by real users of a bibliographic retrieval system. Reports on Part I of a longitudinal study of decision making on document use by academics (25 faculty and graduate students in Agricultural Economics). Examines what components are relevant to the users' decisions and what cognitive process may have occurred…

Focuses on methodological issues involved in choosing instruments to monitor behavior, once a comprehensive evaluation has suggested trials on Ritalin. Case examples illustrate problems of teacher compliance in filling out measures, supplying adequate placebos, and obtaining physical cooperation. Emerging school-based methodologies are discussed…

Presents a study that uses a quasi-ethnographic methodology employing impressionistic tales of the field to explore constraints and successes encountered by teachers while implementing innovative teaching approaches in middle school classrooms. A new middle school structure blended elementary and secondary school cultures. Presents three tales…

Presents a 48-item selected annotated bibliography of recent research in the teaching of English (most published in scholarly journals between July and December, 1997). Organizes the annotations into sections on assessment; bilingual education and foreign language education; discourse processes; family/workplace literacy; professional development;…

Educational research in Finland, the development of which is traced over 40 years, has been aimed mainly at the Finnish community of educators, and relatively little has been published abroad. The main concepts of Finnish educational research were imported from Europe before World War II, and most of the country's educational research has been…

Education lacks scientifically sound studies, whether researchers are examining promotion versus retention, class-size effects, or private voucher schemes. American public schools have educated the world's most productive work force, test scores are rising, and more kids graduate than formerly. Educators should demand compelling evidence before…

Provides an overview of the economic approach to the question of the value of English. Discusses reasons why this question is attracting increasing attention, and examines the labor market in Switzerland, presenting methodological aspects and providing fundamental statistical reports. Results indicate that for Switzerland as a whole, English…

Maintains that conflict in close relationships characterizes both the United States and Japan, with differences only in the style and timing of its manifestations. Asserts that the potentially fruitful strategy of Rothbaum et al. is constrained by their cross-cultural comparative methodology. (Author/KB)

Notes that commentators unanimously support Rothbaum et al.'s general orientation to culture and development and their developmental pathways. Views commentators' suggestions as relating to trade-offs: between theories that highlight generalization or exceptions; between methods that rely on one-, two-, or multiculture studies; and between values…