The education of the whole person and the noncognitive dimensions of curriculum and teaching methodology are considered. Attention is also directed to the methods of scholarly research that may be employed in investigating this area of learning. Terms that have been used to describe affective development or a combined approach to cognitive and…

Monte Carlo simulation was used to investigate score bias and information characteristics of Owen's Bayesian adaptive testing strategy, and to examine possible causes of score bias. Factors investigated in three related studies included effects of item discrimination, effects of fixed vs. variable test length, and effects of an accurate prior…

Earlier versions of the four papers presented in this collection formed a symposium, "Children's Interactions with Television," at the 1982 International Congress of Applied Psychology in Edinburgh. In the first paper, "Children's Comprehension of Television Programs," Peter Rendell and Mary Nixon describe a study which…

A study selectively examined factors that have contributed to observed limitations of congruent data describing normative, developmental change in adult cognition. A preteritive design was used first to examine limiting factors, and secondly, to examine research strategies that could be used to provide necessary reforms of the data. Three factors…

Vocational education research and development (R&D) product evaluations are difficult to conduct for several reasons, such as the many types of R&D products, the multiple users of the products with different goals for evaluation, the limited time available, and the high cost. In order to meet these challenges, an internal evaluation team…

The methodology and findings of the Law-Related Education Project's research reports which evaluated the effects on secondary students of law-related education (LRE), are discussed. A response to James P. Shaver's negative critique of the Law-Related Education Project's research studies also is provided. A detailed account of the research results…

This paper describes various kinds of inservice teacher education sponsored by the Maryland State Department of Education and explores the factors influencing impact on participants in terms of use of knowledge or skills presented. Data were collected by observation, interviews, and questionnaires. A cross-case synthesis of 10 individual case…

The Program of Research and Evaluation for Public Schools (PREPS) is a consortium of public school districts in Mississippi working with the Bureau of Educational Research and Evaluation in the College of Education at Mississippi State University. PREPS is designed to provide data to local decision makers and aid them in problem identification.…

An increasing number of states are requiring educators to take certification tests in order to obtain a license to teach. While this trend shows little sign of waning, there is little to guide the developer of teacher licensing tests in defining test specifications in a legally and technically sound manner. This paper discusses the legal and…

These conference proceedings deal with an interdisciplinary approach to reducing handicapping conditions and ensuring integration of and equal participation by people with disabilities in all aspects of community life. Papers from plenary sessions cover such topics as psychological and social aspects of rehabilitation, research methodology in…

Basic principles and techniques for constructing a student tracking system, either at the institutional or system level, are presented and illustrated. The design, development, and utilization of the LONESTAR (Longitudinal Student Tracking and Reporting) system are described. The system, which provides information on student achievement, program…

The educational reform movement of the 1980s has sparked a renewed emphasis on the quality of teaching and learning, not only in community colleges, but at every level of education. Most teachers embark upon their careers knowing very little about teaching and learning and, unfortunately, remain naive observers of their profession. Classroom…

This paper offers criticism of rural education research methods, and identifies areas in need of more or better systematic inquiry. It suggests the need to increase the quantity of the highest quality of research and the need for researchers to reach policy makers and "mainstream" education journals more effectively. Five main problems…

While the aptitude treatment interaction (ATI) approach to educational measurement emphasizes establishing salient learner characteristics, systematic formative evaluation provides ongoing evaluation for instructional program modification. Systematic formative evaluation appears more tenable than ATI for developing individualized instructional…

The purpose of this exercise is to introduce college students to basic research methodology and concepts for social class in the United States and to the useful library sources and techniques to aid in the research. The underlying theory is that social classes do exist in the United States, and students can validate this theory through…