The advantages and disadvantages of balanced incomplete block designs are clarified and their use is demonstrated with an empirical example. A procedure for reducing data of this type to analyzable form is proposed, and an analytical approach that is appropriate for the resulting data is illustrated. (Author/BW)

A review of the conceptual and methodological considerations in assessment and treatment of children's fears and phobias is presented. Areas discussed include the definitional problems in the field, analogue and clinical research, experimental research methods, and criteria for the evaluation of outcome in fear and phobia research. (Author/DWH)

Although the primary responsibility rests with the authors of articles reporting nonsignificant results to demonstrate the worth of the results by discussing the power of the tests, consumers should be prepared to conduct their own power analyses. This article demonstrates the use of power analysis for the interpretation of nonsignificant…

Four aspects of the relationship between auditing and evaluation in their approaches to program assessment are examined: (1) their different origins; (2) the definitions and purposes of both, and the questions they seek to answer; (3) contrasting viewpoints and emphases of auditors and evaluators; and (4) commonalities of interest and potential…

This paper outlines the problems associated with the estimation of variance components in generalizability analyses using analysis of variance software, and discusses the most useful software currently available for this specialist application: the MIVQUE method of the Statistical Analysis System (SAS) procedure VARCOMP. (Author)

Reviews selected materials on the use of the case study approach in educational research. Examines the characteristics of, and philosophical assumptions underlying, the case study; the mechanics of conducting a case study; and concerns about reliability, validity, and generalizability in using the method. (AYC)

Script Analysis, Domain Analysis, Activity Patterns, and Behavior Setting Analysis are reviewed as approaches to the study of person-environment relationships. (DF)

An analytic procedure is presented for testing the homogeneity of unstandardized regression weight vectors when the vectors are correlated. The basic design involves repeated measurements on a dependent variable and a set of independent variables. The method is illustrated with a study of perceived leader behavior. (Author/BW)

A child with a diagnosis of mild mental retardation was treated for encopresis. Positive reinforcement procedures for continence and logical consequences for soiling were effective in accomplishing complete continence during the final phase of treatment. An ABCDA design with a decelerating rate of reinforcement was utilized to assess treatment…

Discusses three criteria by which to measure the importance of adult education research questions. These criteria are practical application, contribution to understanding, and universality. The author argues that the criteria must not be identified with a particular kind of research or "importance" comparisons between quantitative and…

Critiquing the McFaul and Cooper article, the author cites poor research design and implementation as the reason for negative research findings on clinical supervision. Seven concepts of clinical supervision are outlined. (MD)

The authors respond to an earlier article by S. Stainback and W. Stainback which suggested the need for more qualitative research in special education. The response centers on the need for better research in the field. The Stainbacks reply, questioning the underlying rationales denigrating qualitative research. (CL)

The authors demonstrate how exponential smoothing can play a role in the identification of the intervention component of an interrupted time-series design model that is analogous to the role that the sample autocorrelation and partial autocorrelation functions serve in the identification of the noise portion of such a model. (Author/BW)

Analyzes the results of research on the uses of and attitudes toward output analysis in U.S. postsecondary institutions, focusing on attempts to use the method to improve the college. Presents theoretical considerations, identifies six factors related to the use of output data, and reviews studies concerning output analysis. (DMM)

Considerations for evaluating single subject research in special education include the social validation of treatment goals and effects, the clarity and completeness of treatment descriptions, the generality of treatment results, and component analyses of treatment packages. (Author/CL)