As an introduction to social science and its methods, this book is useful to the student, teacher, professional social scientist, and general reader. Part 1 introduces the system of scientific inquiry and shows how social science fits into that system. The structure of scientific beliefs, the disciplines of social science, and the relationships of…

A group of psychologists met to consider and assess the potential contribution of psychology to educational research and development and, more specifically, to programs directed toward the problems of equality, quality, and efficiency in education. It is reported that the various fields of differential psychology, learning theory, developmental…

Describes a two-year study of one college student's efforts to produce appropriate content area writing in different disciplines. Using observation, interviews, composing-aloud protocols, and text analysis, evaluates the student's performance according to the Gricean rubric of conversation. Concludes that success was affected by unarticulated…

Describes the Research Libraries Group (RLG) conspectus for collection evaluation and how it is being used to foster cooperation among North American libraries. Discussion of the internal benefits includes library planning, collection policy formation, staffing allocation and training, funding allocation and requests, accreditation, faculty…

Reviews the results and implications of the 1985 National Survey of Instructional Uses of School Computers, a survey of elementary and secondary schools which examined teacher use as well as student use. Differences in student use are reported according to grade level, subject, ability level, and gender. (LRW)

The Education Code and Title 5 Regulations clearly lay out the requirements for faculty members hired to teach courses and perform other services in the California Community Colleges. Since passage of the Community College Reform Act (AB 1725) in 1988, faculty have had the primary role in determining who is hired to their ranks and specifically…

Despite suggestions for incorporating students' experiences into school math lessons, mathematics education seems to be the last bastion of formalism. This paper reports on a sociocultural study of the use of students' personal experiences in early childhood elementary mathematics lessons. This study documents the use of students' personal…

Discusses the origin of theories in geography and particularly the development of location theories. Considers the influence of economic theory on agricultural land use, industrial location, and geographic location theories. Explores a set of interrelated activities that show how the marketing process illustrates process theory. (MJP)

Formulates a pedagogical position that articulates religious experience as complementary to formal-rational thought. Recent postmodernist criticism has located secular thinking as a coequal position to subjective religious experience on the now-leveled philosophical playing field. Explores what this newfound (academic) respectability means for…

Maintains that fundamental historical concepts can be imparted to high school students through the use of photography, painting, film, literature, and other forms of popular culture. Provides many examples of students utilizing popular culture to understand conceptions of historical time, locate meaning, and empathize with historical people. (MJP)

Illustrates how, using introductory-level microeconomic models, an instructor can show various economic theorists' explanations of short run employment and output fluctuations. Identifies the competing schools of thought as old Keynesian, new Keynesian, and new Classical (which includes real business cycle theorists). Includes illustrative graphs…

Maintains that sociology must reconceptualize the meaning of multiethnic societies and regions and also advance theories about how such social organizations came into being and transform themselves through conflicting and peaceful processes. Briefly reviews traditional approaches and outlines new areas of study. (MJP)

Presents a rationale for making the psychology curriculum more inclusive of gay and lesbian issues. Reports on a survey of current psychology textbooks that indicates inadequate coverage and segregated treatment of the topic of homosexuality. Provides instructional suggestions to correct these omissions and biases. (MJP)

This article suggests that the 21st century will bring challenges to the specialized system of higher education that has evolved. The college student population will be larger and even more diverse, teaching will become more technology-based and theory-driven, and the curriculum and faculty will be correspondingly more interdisciplinary. Graduate…

Data from three faculty surveys (1979, 1984, 1990) of eight Australian colleges and universities were used to analyze changes in work-related attitudes. Patterns and trends are examined over time and in relation to institution type, gender, academic rank, and discipline. Policy implications are discussed. (Author/MSE)