Provides a set of teaching activities for a mini-unit on pirates. Urges the use of such activities as a means of stimulating student interest in determining the difference between fact and myth. Presents an interdisciplinary approach which reinforces skills ranging from geography to creative writing. (KO)

Reported are observational limits of detectability for several single stimulus and multi-stimuli observation tasks in secondary level chemistry. Provided are tables of actual results obtained including type of observation, chemical system used, method of determining stimulus magnitude, and observational thresholds. (Author/YP)

It has been proposed that the Objective Measure of Ego Identity Status and its scoring criteria should be adjusted to utilize a half standard deviation cutoff. Evidence is provided to support the claim that less stringent criteria will lead to higher numbers classified while arriving at the same research results. This proposal is considered and,…

Data on 1993 campus crime from 796 higher education institutions with enrollments over 5,000, required by federal law, reflects a rise in robberies, aggravated assaults, arrests for drug and weapons violations though property crimes and murders decreased. Interpretation of data, seen as providing an incomplete picture, is debated. (MSE)

Presents a distillation experiment that uses temperature sensors connected to a computer in place of thermometers, and enables the whole class to view the data on a monitor and interpret and discuss the data in real time. (JRH)

Focuses on political misrule through the use of statistics. It examines the defining of political events in this century and the reasons for the rise of the statistics-oriented, problem-solving state which, it is argued, has had adverse affects on social programs and antipoverty policies and has created a misunderstanding of the prevalence of…

This paper examines the art of Rene Magritte to illustrate how artworks provide a number of dimensions for realizing experience, for creating knowledge, and for a changed role of interpretation in educational research. The paper argues that works of art provide new gestalts and new grounds for confidence. (JB)

Skillful, scientific observation of even one student having difficulty can give teachers ideas for helping all of their students. Discusses planning observation time, tools for observation, and how to observe students and interpret observations. Provides specific suggestions for five observed behaviors and sources of more information (two…

Investigates the factors that constrain and promote the selection of noun compound types in spoken and written Hebrew. Three types of data were examined, one spoken and two written. Lexical, semantic, syntactic, and pragmatic analyses revealed that construct-state compounds are the default form for expressing relations. (55 references) (Author)

Examination of contradictory data show that during the 1980s college graduates' earnings increased relative to those with less education. More college graduates were employed in jobs not requiring degrees; employers had sufficient numbers to fill jobs requiring degrees. Economic restructuring rather than a shortage of college graduates appears to…

A methodological framework is provided for quantitatively integrating Type I error rates and power values for Monte Carlo studies. An example is given using Monte Carlo studies of a test of equality of variances, and the importance of relating metanalytic results to exact statistical theory is emphasized. (SLD)

The economic transformation of eastern Europe raises issues in the collection and interpretation of national statistics on output measures, price measures, labor force, household income, and private enterprise. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics is assisting eastern European statistical agencies in rebuilding their systems. (SK)

Addresses the problems related to research design and the improper interpretation of survey results at the institutional level. Analyzes the validity of student opinion surveys. Discusses the importance of response rates. Encourages developmental educators to question results of surveys when outcomes are contrary to the findings of research…

Calls for community colleges to collaborate with state and federal agencies to develop national post-community college earnings measures and student outcomes. Asserts that changes in pre- or post-college earnings result from many factors, and that attributing these changes to a single variable may lead to inaccurate conclusions. (EMH)

A study involving 11,804 British children (age 10) found that when specified criteria for dyslexia were used, 269 children qualified as dyslexic. These included 223 boys and 46 girls, for a ratio of 4.51 to 1. Difficulties in interpreting these data are discussed and a defense of the criteria is provided. (Author/CR)