This paper describes some of the procedures most frequently used in research on staff training and reviews the research in relation to outcomes for clients with developmental disabilities as a function of staff training, maintenance of staff skills, and transfer of staff skills across settings, clients, and programs. Issues in behavioral…

Investigates to what extent the school-level environment in Catholic schools differs from government schools in Australia. Results indicated that Catholic schools were not superior to government schools except in the areas of empowerment and mission consensus. Describes study methodology and provides tables of data. (YKH)

Uses Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) to examine a college's ability to retain African American college students by highlighting those who have shown motivation to succeed. Results with a sample of 256 do not show that the most efficient and productive students in high school will perform similarly well in college. (SLD)

A study in interlanguage pragmatics investigated the effect of three types of rejoinder (positive, negative, absent) on non-native informants' choices of strategies to perform complaints, requests, and apologies. Results show strategy choice differentially affected by rejoinder type, suggesting that findings from studies using different production…

Discusses the role of teachers as researchers. Includes personal reflections on participation as a teacher researcher, observations as a teaching administrator conducting doctoral research in the classroom, and personal viewpoints as a state visual and performing arts supervisor. Considers the relationship between classroom research and the…

This study compared the effect of two language sampling elicitation contexts, free play and picture descriptions, on variability in the use of African American English (AAE) with 65 normally developing African American children (ages 4 to 6) from lower socioeconomic status homes. Picture descriptions elicited more AAE usage overall, a larger set…

Asserts that journal's three studies examining cultural influences on emotional development reflect Western cultural model, using Western scripts for how data were collected and meaningfulness attributed. Addresses: (1) search for universals versus cultural specificity; (2) effect of unit of analysis; (3) whose perspective is used when proclaiming…

Examines the historical and conceptual foundations of friendship research. Areas addressed include functions of friendship, study of peer relations and peer systems, associated methodological and measurement challenges, and the study of friendship today. The discussion is framed around the "Harry Potter" (by J. K. Rowling) phenomena. (SD)

This study compared 4 methods (2 case history and 2 performance-based) used to classify the status of adult subjects in familial studies of developmental language disorders, involving 24 parents of children with developmental language disorders and 24 unrelated adult controls. Classification by case history found fewer affected adults than…

Discusses results of a survey of special librarians that investigated research knowledge and activities. Topics include formal and informal training in research methodology; continuing education; barriers to research, including a lack of institutional support; and the disinterest in and lack of understanding about research and its relevance to…

Response of colleges and universities to surveys from publishers of college guides and popular newsstand magazines is discussed, and considerations in developing a standard survey response are explored. These include the advantages and limitations of standardized information formats, how much of the information reaches prospective students, how…

A questionnaire was completed by 510 special education teachers in 3 school districts, revealing that teachers' attitudes toward both research and instructional analysis were positive. Significant relationships were found between teachers' attitudes and the research methods courses they had taken, their involvement in research, and their earned…

This paper reports on findings of the first of a series of cross-sectional surveys to evaluate a community-based child abuse prevention initiative in Boston (Massachusetts). The survey assessed social support, attitudes about parenting, perceptions of the neighborhood, and ways in which these relate to child abuse. (Author/DB)

A discussion of misconduct in scientific research looks at the roles of several segments of the scientific community (federal government, universities, scholarly journals, and individual scientists) in exercising control of misconduct. Limitations of their roles and overall implications for policy are examined. (MSE)

Presents an action framework for population education in four sections: (1) policies, programming, and institutional coordination; (2) conceptualization and content at different levels of education; (3) strategies for the development of educational action; and (4) logistic support activities. Foresees two levels of action: direct within the…