In this first of several articles studying the education of educators and the status of teaching as a profession, the assumptions and postulates underlying this research effort are explained. Assumptions involve the relevancy of knowledge, institutions conceived as reform units, and teaching viewed as value-driven. Includes 23 references. (MLH)

Illustrates current status of thanatological research by examining the most popular line of empirical investigation (death anxiety as assessed by self-report scales) and the most sweeping theoretical approach yet proposed (Freud's death instinct). Notes that the most popular vein of research and most spectacular theory have almost no relationship…

Argues against John Durham Peters' account that describes communications as an "intellectually stagnant" field of study. Claims that communication research as a field has been evolving with some success toward becoming a discipline. (MS)

Assesses the unaccepted use of figurative language in science and technical writing, especially, objections to metaphor's imputed ambiguity. Proposes that metaphor play a stronger role in conceptualization of scientific and technical ideas. (MS)

Illustrates how qualitative research traditions can be used in educational research. Shows that qualitative research presents a diverse approach to research and offers a rich understanding of education. Compares ecological psychology, holistic ethnography, cognitive anthropology, and symbolic interaction. (RB)

Because sport psychology has so recently been recognized at the United States Olympic Training Center, sport psychologists have had little systematic access to Olympic athletes. Intervention strategies used with elite athletes were developed from studies using primarily male athletes. Further research should include a focus on female athletes. (MT)

The purpose of this essay is to compare the "strong-text" approach to literacy (which equates literacy with a tool for the representation of reality) with the approach that views literacy as involvement through the intersection of theory and practice. Theoretical expositions have limits placed on their explanatory power; the effort of this paper…

This issue of the quarterly newsletter of the Center for Mental Health in Schools is devoted entirely to presenting the first draft of a brief prepared by the staff of two national centers: the Center for Mental Health in Schools at UCLA (co-directed by Howard Adelman and Linda Taylor) and the Center for School Mental Health Assistance at the…

Career development is an inherently spiritual process. Yet many career development professionals and personal coaches shy away from any discussion of spirituality in their work. This places the career professional in a dilemma: How does one practice a spiritual occupation, but never discuss the central issue? To escape this dilemma, the author…

Evidence of tension between teachers and researchers regarding the work that researchers undertake in classrooms surfaces from time to time. The title of this conference, "A Conversation between Researchers and Practitioners", testifies to the importance of interaction between the users and providers of research. Indeed, in this paper, we will…

Following the lead of James Berlin, the trend in rhetoric and composition for the past two decades has been to develop pedagogies that not only affirm the social construction of knowledge, but also interrogate the ideological structures of power in which students are always and already embedded. Since Berlin and others of the "political…

This paper discusses Working Ahead: The National Workforce and Career Development Curriculum, a program developed by the John J. Heldrich Center for Workforce Development at New Jerseys Rutgers University. The program seeks to provide practical help and skills development to those who currently are, or want to be, front-line workforce career…

Much motivational research has examined the role of attributions of perceived causes of outcomes. Attributions are important because theory and research show that attributions have differential effects on motivation. There are many different attributions; for example, ability, effort, task ease/difficulty, luck, strategy use, help from others,…

Transformative learning can be rational/analytical or intuitive emotional. It can effect personal or social change, and it can take place in a variety of contexts. (SK)

States that concentrating on the job at hand helps meet immediate objectives but lack of an overall strategy does not allow for adding value to organizations. Contends strategic planning helps information-development organizations demonstrate their value and alignment with corporate objectives. Advocates using strategic planning to improve the…