This inventory suggests six categories to be used in evaluating reported experimental research in education and psychology: (1) research problem/hypothesis; (2) related literature; (3) research design; (4) data collection and analysis; (5) conclusions and generalizations; and (6) style and organization of report. (GDC)

Separate selection and pretesting of students eliminate regression effects in the pre-post achievement gain measured in the RMC Model--A method of program evaluation. (CP)

The author defines the aims of cross-cultural research in art education and examines the problems inherent in such research, using as an illustration a summary chart of Child's cross-cultural studies of esthetic sensitivity. Emphasis is placed on the need for rigor in research design and execution. (SJL)

Based on a review of television's influence on social reality beliefs, a model is proposed to examine how individuals use television to construct such beliefs. Evidence suggests that television has some influence on attitudes related to violence, sex, old age, and family values and structure. Twenty-two references are cited. (Author/MER)

The authors outline Piaget's "mountain task" which measured egocentrism and perspective taking in young children, then present three studies of the same construct which used a different task, the "hiding game." These studies indicated much less egocentrism in young children than Piaget found. These differences are discussed.…

This paper delineates conditions under which the use of change scores will not produce misleading results, and may perhaps be preferable to other methods of analysis. The validity of change scores in randomized pretest-posttest designs is discussed along with situations where analysis of change scores should be used. (Author/GK)

Investigators are urged to plan factor analytic studies prior to collecting the data, to formulate a hypothesized factor structure, to develop several relatively pure measures of each factor expected, and to select an appropriate sample of at least 200 cases. Continuous variables should be used rather than dichotomous variables. (Author)

Criteria for suitable research designs for use with large databases are suggested and analyzed. The advantages and disadvantages of several types of quasi-experimental designs are compared. Examples are taken from the authors' research with data from the Manitoba Health Services Commission. (Author/AL)

Suggests that designing home-based interventions as longitudinal development research (rather than outcome evaluation) can provide valuable knowledge about ecological factors that affect the development of competence in parents and children and about effective ways to support families. (Author/MP)

Describes a path analytic approach to a model of extramarital sexual permissiveness. Variables include age, gender, education, religiosity, political liberalism, premarital sexual permissiveness, autonomy, marital happiness, and power. (JAC)

It is paradoxical that analog tasks are used in learning and memory studies of aging when older groups are less responsive or may terminate participation when faced with what they believe are meaningless stimuli or trivial tasks. Research with meaningful prose materials is recommended. (Author/BEF)

When statistics are the focus, consumer/consultant relationships are often strained. Therefore, decision points in the research and consulting processes are examined for ways to clarify and improve the consulting relationship. A model for analyzing statistical techniques to provide a graphic basis for negotiation is presented. (Author/GDC)

An experimental study of the impact of a prevocational literacy program on subsequent occupational education for military personnel yielded findings that led to a major redesign of the literacy program. (CT)

Describes three major categories of polarities in research attitudes and practices: (1) attitudes about research and who should conduct it, (2) impressions of what research is, and (3) conceptions about research methods and findings. Calls for moderating the polarizations for a more balanced view and more productive business communication…

A major problem in social science research is that of successfully carrying out the random assignment of persons to experimental and control groups. In this study a computer-based random assignment procedure operated successfully on a weekly basis for 17 consecutive weeks in a program serving over 360 ex-offenders. (CTM)