The article examines the concepts of power and control in research design and applies them to a review of the validity of three studies (EC 600 064-066) evaluating the effectiveness of using Irlen tinted lenses with reading-disabled persons. Internal validity, external validity, statistical conclusion validity, and construct validity are…

Garman (1974), reporting on 20 Tamil children aged 3 to 5, postulated a linguistic strategy and 2 prelinguistic strategies to explain results of a question-picture choice task involving sentences with embedded and subordinate clauses. Reanalysis of this data identifies four processing strategies and argues that certain grammatical sensitivities…

Hypertextual ways to think about evaluation are explored, and hypertext computer programs are discussed. Hypertext is useful as a way to search out and link related material. It can help maintain, manipulate, and analyze nonnumerical evaluation data. (SLD)

An experimenting society is one that vigorously tries out proposed solutions to recurrent problems and then tries other alternatives if evaluation shows that previous efforts are ineffective or harmful. Methods that social scientists could use if the experimenting society becomes a reality are explored. (SLD)

Describes research on the prevalence of alcohol, drug, and mental (ADM) disorders and the characteristics of homeless substance abusers and persons with mental illnesses. Reviews methodological problems. Finds prevalence rates of ADM disorders, extreme poverty, isolation from support network, and contact with correctional agencies higher in…

This rejoinder to Carbo (EC 602 673) reiterates the author's premise in EC 602 672 that the learning style approach to teaching reading is similar to discredited process approaches. Carbo's documentation is criticized as being unscientific because of being based on testimonials, opinion, unpublished research, and unproven cause and effect.…

Argues that the analytical comparison of library collections to the people using those collections could provide insights related to library acquisition priorities and practices, and describes and illustrates a method for analyzing this relationship. A sidebar by Myra White describes an application of the results of such a study at California…

This study investigated the relationship between self-restraint (e.g., entanglement of limbs in clothing or furniture) and self-injurious behavior (SIB) using functional analysis with five males with severe mental retardation. Results suggested that self-restraint, like SIB, may be maintained by idiosyncratic contingencies. (Author/DB)

Discusses the use of communication on computer networks as a data source for psychological, social, and linguistic research. Differences between computer-mediated communication and face-to-face communication are described, the Beginning Teacher Computer Network is discussed, and examples of network conversations are appended. (28 references) (LRW)

Discussion of the assessment and evaluation of educational technology focuses on appropriate research methodologies for use by elementary and secondary education teachers. Distinctions between assessment and evaluation are explained; the need for adequate planning is discussed; student benefits and attitudes are considered; and teacher needs and…

Provides an overview of the development of humanities computing during the past 25 years. Mentions the major applications of the computer to humanities disciplines including the generation of concordances, attempts at dating works of major authors, proving authorship, defining style, and compiling indexes. Discusses lexicographical uses and…

Critiques conceptions of class, culture, and the changing role of the state in comparative education research (including macro and micro traditions and Marxian analysis). Draws on Habermas and other contemporary German social theorists to suggest the need for methodologies based on less coercive, reciprocal intercultural relations. (149…

Practical and ethical issues (parent consent, voluntary participation, and confidentiality) in the conduct of research in preventive intervention for high-risk students are illustrated in the context of the implementation and evaluation of a school-based program for the elementary school children of alcoholics. Implications for prevention studies…

Methodology is suggested for several statistical procedures to detect polytomously scored items that function differently for two subgroups of examinees. The 3 methods are alternative ways of combining the data from 2 x "k" tables. Simulation results demonstrate the superiority of two of the methods, designated HW1 and HW3. (SLD)

The main differences between pragmatism and scientific realism seem to focus on the certainty of knowledge. Pragmatists contend that one can never be entirely certain of one's beliefs, whereas scientific realists argue that progress has been, and can be, made in explaining things about the world. (SLD)