Investigators are urged to plan factor analytic studies prior to collecting the data, to formulate a hypothesized factor structure, to develop several relatively pure measures of each factor expected, and to select an appropriate sample of at least 200 cases. Continuous variables should be used rather than dichotomous variables. (Author)

Criteria for suitable research designs for use with large databases are suggested and analyzed. The advantages and disadvantages of several types of quasi-experimental designs are compared. Examples are taken from the authors' research with data from the Manitoba Health Services Commission. (Author/AL)

Suggests that designing home-based interventions as longitudinal development research (rather than outcome evaluation) can provide valuable knowledge about ecological factors that affect the development of competence in parents and children and about effective ways to support families. (Author/MP)

Describes a path analytic approach to a model of extramarital sexual permissiveness. Variables include age, gender, education, religiosity, political liberalism, premarital sexual permissiveness, autonomy, marital happiness, and power. (JAC)

It is paradoxical that analog tasks are used in learning and memory studies of aging when older groups are less responsive or may terminate participation when faced with what they believe are meaningless stimuli or trivial tasks. Research with meaningful prose materials is recommended. (Author/BEF)

When statistics are the focus, consumer/consultant relationships are often strained. Therefore, decision points in the research and consulting processes are examined for ways to clarify and improve the consulting relationship. A model for analyzing statistical techniques to provide a graphic basis for negotiation is presented. (Author/GDC)

An experimental study of the impact of a prevocational literacy program on subsequent occupational education for military personnel yielded findings that led to a major redesign of the literacy program. (CT)

Describes three major categories of polarities in research attitudes and practices: (1) attitudes about research and who should conduct it, (2) impressions of what research is, and (3) conceptions about research methods and findings. Calls for moderating the polarizations for a more balanced view and more productive business communication…

A major problem in social science research is that of successfully carrying out the random assignment of persons to experimental and control groups. In this study a computer-based random assignment procedure operated successfully on a weekly basis for 17 consecutive weeks in a program serving over 360 ex-offenders. (CTM)

Factorial modeling is justified as a method for analyzing correlations in support of causal inference. The method is illustrated and compared to path analysis, LISREL-type analysis, canonical correlation, and commonality analysis. Predictions of impacts of policy manipulations are demonstrated. (Author/CP)

The effects of taking an attitude pretest on the attitude scores for a posttest were studied. A comparison was also made of the effects of negatively worded pretest questions. Small but statistically significant differences were found. (CTM)

Four positions concerning foreign and second language learning ability in adults are summarized with attention to the "critical period" hypothesis. An argument is made for a shift from macro-correlational studies to controlled micro language learning research free of extralinguistic variables. (PMJ)

Applied to the recognition of words in noise, the theory of the perceptual identification of complex stimuli provides a quantitative account of the proportions in which correct and erroneous responses of different frequencies will occur. (Author)

The usual interpretation of suppressor effects in a multiple regression equation assumes that the correlations among variables have been generated by a particular structural model. How such a regression equation is interpreted is shown to be dependent on the structural model deemed appropriate. (Author/JKS)

If the proposition is accepted that service agencies occupy unique environments, then single organism research designs (such as ABAB) and multiple baseline designs may provide more valuable information than currently accepted research methodologies. (Author/MH)