This meta-analysis examined 152 studies on social skill deficits among students with learning disabilities (LD). Quantitative synthesis showed that about 75% of students with LD manifest social skill deficits that distinguish them from comparison samples. Approximately the same level of group differentiation was found across different raters…

Meta-analysis of 482 empirical studies on treatment of problem behaviors of individuals with mental retardation found that externally destructive behaviors are less successfully treated than socially disruptive and internally maladaptive behaviors. Also, response contingent procedures were significantly more effective than other procedures.…

The integration of assessment, learning, and instruction are discussed, focusing on the importance of students' prior knowledge. A literature review and analysis of 128 studies provide support for the assertion that assessment has an important impact on instruction and learning. Positive effects were found for progress assessment. (SLD)

Meta analysis of 21 studies investigated type of person-environment fit measure, method of calculating fit, fit dimensions, and use of established measures. Subjective fit measures, use of correlations to calculate fit, value congruence as the fit dimensions, and use of an established measure increased effect sizes. (Contains 64 references.) (SK)

A meta-analytic review of group comparison design studies evaluating peer-assisted learning (PAL) interventions with elementary school students produced positive effect sizes (ESs) indicating increases in achievement. PAL interventions were most effective with younger, urban, low-income, and minority students. Interventions that used…

Uses thematic meta-analysis to examine study method, medium and area of focus, theoretical approach, funding source, and time period covered in research articles published in 10 major mass communications journals during the 1980 to 1999 period. Finds that qualitative research methods continued to be much less common than quantitative methods…

Two studies examined age-related change in proactive interference from previously learned material. The meta-analysis of 26 studies indicated that proactive interference decreased with age. The cross-sectional study found that third through sixth graders' and college students' recall was accurate on Trial 1, but became less so over Trials 2…

Findings from meta-analyses of outdoor education, psychotherapy, and educational innovations are presented to help determine the relative efficacy of adventure therapy programs. While adventure therapy effects are stronger than those of outdoor education, they are not nearly as strong as those of individual psychotherapy. Benchmarks are derived…

Reports a meta-analysis of published cross-cultural self-construal research. Notes that the results across studies suggests that the evidence for the predicted cultural differences is weak, inconsistent, or nonexistent. Concludes that catastrophic validity problems exist in research involving the use of self-construal scales in cross-cultural…

Disagrees with Levine et al.'s conclusion (published in this issue, see CS 764 297) that the three self construal scales currently in use have "severe" or "fatal" flaws. Argues that the results of Levine et al.'s meta-analysis and priming studies do not raise problems with the validity of self construal scales. Concludes that the two-dimensional…

Addresses each of the three main areas of Levine et al.'s (see this issue, CS 764 297) validity testing: mean differences in self-construals between Asians and Westerners and within individuals; priming experiments; and factor analysis of self-construal scales. Suggests that Levine et al.'s conclusions on crucial aspects of validity are untenable.…

Offers a critical rejoinder in the discussion concerning the viability of self-construal scales. Disputes the arguments to the contrary offered by Gudykunst and Lee and Kim and Raja (see this issue, CS 764 298-299). Sees the potential utility in the self-construal construction, but the three primary scales fail to meet reasonable and accepted…

Analysis of 117 research articles reporting use of behavioral interventions with single subjects with autism concluded that behavioral treatments are effective in reducing problematic behaviors. Type of target behavior and type of treatment did not moderate average treatment effect. Reliability of observation, number of treatment data points, and…

Reviews the historical findings of computer-based instruction research and 47 evaluations of web-based courses in higher education published 1996-2002. Tabulates results in terms of content area, educational level, sample size, use of comparison group, and course characteristics. Assesses experimental designs, effect sizes, and use of features…

Adoption studies were reviewed for evidence of the malleability of intelligence quotient (IQ). Although moderate estimates range between 20 and 25 points, it is argued that the standard adoption study provides little evidence about IQ malleability and that a major study of contrasted environments yields even more conservative estimates. (SLD)