Researchers, historians, and philosophers of science have debated the nature of scientific research in education for more than 100 years. Recent enthusiasm for "evidence-based" policy and practice in education now codified in the federal law that authorizes the bulk of elementary and secondary education programs have brought a new sense…

It is the purpose of this paper to discuss one qualitative research method, participant observation, which describes and analyzes a setting based on data that has been laboriously and systematically collected and analyzed. (Author/RK)

This study describes an emerging sociological prototype and examines the degree to which urban stresses and conditions are absent or present and the manner in which they reveal themselves. (Author/RK)

The studies reviewed represent three dependent variables and their correlates: values as affective elements in the decision process, the content and process of decision making, and organizational style and effectiveness of homemakers. (Author)

This article suggests a number of ways to improve field research on interactions among student characteristics and group counseling techniques. A greater variety of research strategies is urged to create and field test specific counseling treatments for particular students. (Author)

Further development of research regarding the effectiveness of parent education programs depends upon a shift in conventional strategies of program evaluation. Current evaluation methods have been dominated by an interest in the outcomes of parent education programs. It is suggested that program evaluations should examine relationships between…

Four evaluation studies concerning the relationship between parent behaviors/attitudes and child achievement are presented. In each study, parental data were obtained either by direct observation or lengthy face-to-face interviews. In all four studies, significant relationships were found between parental measures and child achievement. (Author/LC)

A study using a classroom simulation designed to demonstrate the effects of a certain/uncertain environment on the decision-making strategies of managers determined that such a simulation can be controlled to produce varied environments, and can be used, with some caveats, to replicate actual fieldwork. Nine references are listed. (EJS)

Demonstrates how teachers--without disrupting their teaching duties--can increase their effectiveness by conducting research on teaching methods in their own classrooms, using simple data collection techniques and research methods permitting confident development of hypotheses and research strategies. (PGD)

The response-shift phenomenon is demonstrated in a typical classroom setting. Retrospective pre-ratings in self-report instruments are shown to yield more accurate estimates of pre-instruction knowledge than simple pre-ratings. (Author/CM)

Discusses library media research and provides specific guidelines to enable school media specialists to read research critically and to apply valuable research at the local level. A seven-item reference list is attached. (JL)

Discusses a planned approach to student follow-up, categories of students who might be included in such research, suggestions for organizing for follow-up research, and utilization of student information systems data. (Author)

Reports on the state of research in nutrition communication, unmet goals in nutrition education, strategies for nutrition education and nutrition education research, and research design issues. Indicates that the field of communications offers theoretical perspectives for nutrition education research. (DS)

Electricity conservation programs were implemented in matched pairs of office-classroom-laboratory buildings and dormitories. The methodological problems of predicting consumption levels, interpreting why changes in consumption occurred, and estimating initial waste levels are discussed along with their implications for the conduct of behavioral…