Results are reported from a longitudinal study of teachers' (N=18) development in writing instruction. Two approaches to writing instruction are contrasted: technical rationality and reflection-in-action. The four-phase action research study was carried out in the context of a one-year in-service training program to prepare writing-teacher…

Procedures for duplicating fossil raindrop impressions are presented. The use of modern and fossil imprints as the basis for qualitative and quantitative lessons in the interpretation of ancient sedimentary features is discussed. (CW)

Multidimensional aspects of school effectiveness and areas for future research are discussed. Issues of stability of school effects, sampling, aggregate versus disaggregate data, school context, and outcome measures reflect some concerns of current school-effectiveness researchers. The debate over the unit of analysis and macrolevel/microlevel…

Describes the development of a menu driven database management program to handle online search statistics reporting requirements for the libraries at the University of California, Los Angeles. Advantages of the program are discussed, including cost effectiveness, autonomy of search service reports, meeting the special needs of individual…

Suggests ways undergraduate students can perform political data analyses using electronic spreadsheets. Examples include data from presidential elections, voting information, and welfare budgeting. Illustrates how data can be used as a partisan weapon and in making predictions. Emphasis is upon electronic spreadsheets rather than the more advanced…

Evaluates the methodological adequacy of 37 studies of reading comprehension strategy instruction according to criteria of both internal and external validity. Finds many strengths, but identifies six important weaknesses. Suggests guidelines for planning future studies, and urges comprehension researchers to pay more attention to methodological…

Criticized in this response is research published previously in "The Journal of Environmental Education." Considered are the limitations of the project, experimental design, control of variables, and the use of the case study approach. Includes 35 references. (CW)

Alumni research does not yet have its own body of literature and resources. Readings are selected from related areas, such as fundraising, marketing, survey research, and other resource books. (MLW)

Illustrates how the combined use of qualitative and quantitative methods were necessary in obtaining a clearer understanding of the process of incest in American society. Argues that the exclusive use of one methodology would have obscured important information. (FMW)

Suggests ways in which mathematical models can be presented and developed in the classroom to promote discussion, analysis, and understanding of issues related to energy consumption. Five problems deal with past trends and future projections of availability of a nonrenewable resource, natural gas. (Contains 13 references.) (MDH)

Project questions are real-world problems with multiple solutions, no obvious solution sequence, requiring hands-on data collection, and investigation of topics within and outside mathematics. Discusses evaluation of solution processes, describes a detailed example involving the trajectory of a baseball, and suggests 19 other project questions.…

Development of a student learning model, based on the analysis of 14 students' classroom experiences in 3 elementary and middle school studies, is described. Data analysis rules derived from the model predicted learning with 80-85% success across the studies. (SLD)

Based on the inaugural Suzanne McConnell Memorial Lecture, this article focuses on the theme of action in complex contexts. The following topics are covered: the author's approach to this theme and the steps needed to progress from analysis of context to new debates and practical action; the changing context of ALBE; and opportunities for action.…

Guidelines for the implementation of qualitative methods in special education research are offered, addressing rigor, sample selection, data collection, and data management/analysis. Five possible pitfalls are identified, including the quantitative-qualitative methods debate, premature data collection, the tendency to use a linear procedural…

Examines the ability of monolingual English-speaking subjects to judge whether two spoken samples are from the same or different unknown foreign language. Performance of subjects was only a small degree above chance, while at the same time giving reliable information about recognition and identification skills. Further studies are needed. (16…