Gains of students in compensatory education programs are contrasted using fall-to-spring gains as opposed to fall-to-fall gains. Results indicate substantial loss for compensatory education students over the summer. Using fall-to-fall scores is recommended. (JKS)

Problems encountered in large-scale educational evaluations are discussed using the evaluation of the Emergency School Aid Act as an example. This extensive article focuses primarily on methodological issues. (JKS)

The effects of imagery instructions on fifth-graders with differing abilities were examined through within-class analysis and analysis in which class effects were allowed to have influence. In the latter analysis there were significant Aptitude X Treatment interactions with subscores derived from paired-associate tasks. Interactions were…

Textbook calculations of statistical power or sample size follow from formulas that assume that the variables under consideration are measured without error. However, in the real world of behavioral research, errors of measurement cannot be neglected. The determination of sample size is discussed, and an example illustrates blocking strategy.…

The possible biasing effects of attrition of subjects in longitudinal experiments is a problem to which social science researchers and evaluators rarely attend. A study of research on Project Follow Through, however, revealed few differences in family income or pretest scores, between students who dropped out of treatment and of comparison groups.…

A 3-year research project (1974-77) in connection with the national campaign against adult illiteracy involves assessing the role of broadcasting in motivating adults to ask for help, investigating appropriate instructional media, and correlating the various learning situations and the subsequent social benefits. Some problems of research design…

"No significant differences" is the most frequently quoted conclusion of surveys comparing the effectiveness of alternative instructional technologies. While this effectiveness conclusion does not differ for the research reported here, the other purposes are to discuss alternative criteria for measuring effectiveness and to analyze potential…

The adverse impact of a content-valid job sample test of metal trades skills was compared to that of a well-constructed content-valid written achievement test for the same technical area. The adverse impact of the former was considerably less. Suggests that industrial psychologists should explore more fully the potential of performance testing.…

Explores some of the methodological issues and problems involved in studies of black mother-child interactions, and presents alternatives to previously-used methods of selecting tasks, instructing subjects, and collecting data in the home. (BD)

Discusses a few examples of areas in which 'we-they' dichotomizing is manifested in classrooms and which could be documented and analyzed through qualitative research. Concludes that studies that yielded concrete classroom examples could help teachers shift towards broader, more realistic, and more positive role definitions than are typical.…

Reviews experimental studies of behavioral consequences of exposure to violent or aggressive pornography and evaluates the validity and relevance as support for censoring pornography in the aftermath of the Meese Commission. Finds research deficient in several areas, such as design, theoretical models, and interpretation, thus offering no…

Describes the formation of a committee to examine policy and practices regarding the preservation of federal records and the impact of computer technologies on federal recordkeeping. The scope and design of the study are discussed, the recommendations of the committee are summarized, and the impact of the study is assessed. (CLB)

Maintains that before teachers or administrators become involved in classroom research they should carefully assess the conceptual soundness, feasibility, and ethics of any proposed study. Also considered should be ways to facilitate research and the potential rewards of research involvement. (BB)

Two quasi-experimental longitudinal studies, conducted by the Centre for Educational Research in Landau, Germany, are reported. Various effects of reporting the outcomes of learning to students were studied. Results emphasized the importance of feedback for learning outcomes. (LMO)

Responds to commentaries by Bereiter and Gersten concerning findings of the High/Scope Educational Research Foundation's 15-year Preschool Curriculum Comparison Study. Addresses issues of design of study, experimenter bias, sample size, self-report validity, interpretation of findings, and related topics. (NH)