Offers characterization of sign-transmission which is more general than conventional signal-transmission theory. Concepts and terminology, formal description of individual communications process, reconciliation with classical signal-detection theory, applications of sign-detection formalism to information retrieval on MEDLINE database, and a…

This article suggests that teacher effectiveness research in vocational education has not improved the delivery of classroom instruction to the extent desired by either researchers or teachers. Researchers are encouraged to consider qualitative research methods and case study reports as one means of increasing compatibility between research and…

The author compares his experiences evaluating Peace Corps volunteers in Kenya and evaluating a health promotion program for adolescents in Orange County, California. Doing international evaluations can improve domestic evaluations by heightening awareness of often unrecognized cultural variations in the domestic setting. (BS)

The authors argue that, even if the two groups of students that they studied--transfers and natives--were not perfectly equivalent, their finding that the lower academic achievement of the transfer students can be attributed to their community college experience still holds. They present evidence on behalf of their conclusion. (RM)

Statistical methods, called latent variable models, have been developed to provide rigorous tests of theories involving unobserved variables. This paper describes the major types of latent variable models, shows how they can be applied in educational research, and gives representative examples of their use from the literature. (Author/BW)

Reviewed published validation studies for the years 1964-1982 of the Journal of Applied Psychology and Personnel Psychology. Results indicated minimal differences across study designs in the average validity coefficient and found selection ratios, standard deviations, reliabilities, predictor and criterion intercorrelations to be rarely and…

The Welch-James procedure may be used to test hypothesis on means, when independent samples from populations with heterogenous variances are available. Summation formulas for the Welch-James procedure are presented for the 2x2 design. Matrix formulas that permit routine application of the procedure to crossed factorial designs are presented.…

Based on an independent analysis of the data used to evaluate the Developmental Economic Education Program, questions are raised about the methodology and conclusions reached by Walstad and Soper in an article published in the Winter 1982 issue of the Journal. The original study is also defended in two replies. (Author/RM)

Rosenthan's (1979) concept of fail-safe N has thus far been applied to probability levels exclusively. This note introduces a fail-safe N for effect size. (Author)

Questioned the statistical analyses of the Moleski and Tosi investigation of rational-emotive therapy versus systematic desensitization. Suggested means for lowering the error rate through a more efficient experimental design. Recommended a reanalysis of the original data. (LLL)

Argues against the indiscriminate use of the term "ethnography" and offers various criteria that have been suggested as distinguishing the ethnographic investigation. (HOD)

Describes a research project that will measure whether student achievement, blood pressure, height, and weight gain are influenced by the choice of color and/or the source of artificial light in the classroom. Four third-grade classrooms will be the treatment groups involving two colors and three different artificial light sources. (MLF)

Responds to Elliot Eisner's claim (Phi Delta Kappan, v. 65, p. 447-52) that educational research often affects educational practice subtly rather than overtly. Also argues, like Eisner, that educational research often is too indebted to social science language and too removed from practical applications. (JW)

An investigation into two forms of group reinforcement techniques in control of disruptive classroom behavior is described. Implications of results on behavior modification in the natural environment are discussed, as well as future research and educational trends. (Author/AV)

Concerns itself with the degree to which the nucleus of new leadership, the present generation of Botswana university students, feels committed towards their nations' desire for the creation of a unified, self-reliant, non-racial democracy which will provide economic and social justice for all. (Author/RK)