Use of performance gaps analysis in program evaluation is examined by analyzing and critiquing the gap reduction design as an experimental design and an analytic tool in program outcome evaluation. The example of the Bilingual Education Evaluation System illustrates the contention that disadvantages of the method outweigh its contributions. (SLD)

Examines effects of different vocal models, response modes, and grade level on pitch-matching accuracy. Studies 163 children in grades K-3 and grades 7-8. Asks participants to echo singing performed by female and male voices. Finds no significant difference in response modes but significant differences in age-level ability and ability to match…

Major findings from a five-year study of the impact of the Swedish School Leader Education Program (SLEP), a program of leadership development for principals and vice principals, are reported. Despite research design difficulties, results for 35 school management areas and 66 evaluators suggest a positive impact of the SLEP. (SLD)

Comments on specific points raised by E. W. Eisner, F. Erickson, and T. S. Popkewitz. Argues that the author's previous article does not support methodological monism. It is an assertion that some version of educational trial (clinical trial metaphor) is required to evaluate the usefulness of educational research. (SLD)

Describes parent-teacher action research, a format for developing stronger parent participation and parent-teacher collaboration. Relates an actual example of action research to improve parent participation in student reading. Discusses the possible benefits of initiating action research, and details 10 steps involved in this type of action. (JB)

Asserts that the technique of "Stories at Work," or fictional-critical writing, is an emerging discipline within professional development and educational research. Discusses ways in which the technique can be used to enhance self-concept and improve teacher effectiveness. (CFR)

This commentary on EC 605 442, which indicated long-term gains for children with autism who experienced intensive behavioral intervention as preschoolers, questions the magnitude of the student changes and their significance, because of concerns about the representativeness and comparability of the sample group and the failure to measure skills…

This commentary on a study reported in EC 605 442, which indicated long-term gains for children with autism who experienced intensive behavioral intervention as preschoolers, criticizes the outcome measures used in the study as inadequate in determining whether normal functioning in cognitive, emotional, and adaptive functioning was achieved as…

A conceptual approach and a set of computer simulations are presented to demonstrate that random measurement error in the pretest does not bias the estimate of the treatment effect in the regression-discontinuity design. Focus is on the case of no interaction between pretest and treatment on posttest. (SLD)

Examines the impact of friendship on the process and outcome of peer-tutoring in a study involving 90 Welsh 8- to 9-year-old children. Finds peer-tutors have difficulty coordinating the demands of tutoring tasks because of their limited cognitive resources. Also finds friendship imposes greater burdens on children's limited resources. (NL)

Examines issues, especially definitional issues, in the practical application of effective naturalistic instructional (NI) practices in the instruction of young children with disabilities and their families. Suggests guidelines for describing independent and dependent variables in the procedural and contextual features of research into NI. (DB)

Criticizes the research design in "The Small ICF/MR program: Dimensions of Quality and Cost" (Conroy), that found small Intermediate Care Facilities (ICF) for individuals with mental retardation are inferior to other community programs. Discusses the problem in selecting a control group on the basis of pretest matching. (CR)

Utilizing the regression-discontinuity research design, this article explores the effectiveness of a developmental English program in a large, multicampus community college. Routinely collected data were extracted from existing records of a cohort of first-time college students followed for approximately 6 years (N = 1,473). Results are consistent…

The NASA's Mars Student Imaging Project (MSIP) is led by the Arizona State University (ASU) Mars Education Program, a major partner of NASA's Mars Exploration Program. MSIP is based on the National Science Education Standards and includes curriculum on terrestrial planet characteristics, experimental design, and proposal writing. Three spacecraft…

Most people are frustrated with the current scientific method presented in textbooks. The scientific method--a simplistic model of the scientific inquiry process--fails in most cases to provide a successful guide to how science is done. This is not shocking, really. Many simple models used in science are quite useful within their limitations. When…