Various theories of learning for the categories "count noun" and "mass noun" are compared. It is argued that children assign words to these categories on the basis of intuitions arising from perception that are relevant to Macnamara's (1986) definitions of the categories. (39 references) (GLR)

The college rankings of "U.S. News and World Report" and "Money Magazine" are criticized (especially those of "Money Magazine") for their use of "soft data," use of meaningless criteria, poor methodology, arbitrariness, and technical difficulties. Colleges are encouraged to correct media errors. The mass…

This response to HE 530 232, by a senior reporter at "Money Magazine," defends the media's ranking of colleges and attempts to correct criticisms concerning "Money"'s use of data on net cost, rankings, arbitrariness, weighting, executive data, paradoxes, and student/faculty ratios. (DB)

Outlines a method of using census information on residence and marriage among the Crow during the early reservation era (1880-1910) to investigate the persistence of traditional family patterns and the emergence of twentieth-century tribal culture. Contains 19 data tables and figures. (SV)

Explores the increased use of computers in the humanities. Discusses computer applications in dissertation writing, research databases, classroom teaching, professional communication, and statistical analysis. Cites problems with data entry and sampling, record linkage, and resistance among some historians to new technologies. (SG)

Criticizes Gage's paper applauding his efforts to combine knowledge and artistry, apply research on classroom experience, and validate the work of education professionals; urges that Gage and other "post-positivists" attend to the "perspectivalism" of scholars in African-American and women's studies with their challenge to…

Argues that the clinical trial paradigm is the wrong model for educational research. Interpretive case study research suggests that the best thing policymakers can do for educational improvement is to give local educators and school communities more freedom and funding to work out their own ways to improve practice. (SLD)

Compares providing staged assignments for teaching research methods to providing a spotter for safety in gymnastics. Describes guidelines for a research proposal. Discusses problem definition, literature review, hypothesis development, data collection, and analysis. Argues that students must know the rules and reasons for the ideal model of…

A survey of 162 students in several sections of a master of social work basic research methodology and statistics course, taught by different teachers, found that student performance did not differ across instructors, undergraduate grade point average was positively correlated with performance, and an undergraduate social service major was…

Methods used to measure college faculty salary compression (i.e., the extent to which new faculty salaries are approaching those of existing faculty at the same or higher rank) are presented. Administrator methods of addressing the issue of salary compression are also discussed, based on a survey of 10 college provosts. (Author/MSE)

Discussion of the use of qualitative research methodology in the study of information-seeking behavior focuses on a study of the information-seeking attributes of 31 members of the Stanford University (California) academic community. Qualitative and quantitative analyses are explained, and issues and problems encountered in implementing the…

Describes a qualitative study of affective variables in the second-language experience. The study used as its data, graduate students' self-report papers about their Community Language Learning experience, which revealed three affective variables--anxiety, motivation, and attitude. (41 references) (JL)

Asserts that the teacher as researcher movement increased awareness of the human interventionary nature of teaching. Maintains that the human interventions of regular classroom practice must be subject to the same ethical scrutiny that applies to all professional endeavors. (CFR)

Reports a study that examined the usefulness of concept maps for detecting differences in kindergarten teachers' theoretical orientation (whole language versus phonics). Results revealed that content but not structure measures differentiated whole language from phonics teachers. Concept maps proved useful in measuring teachers' theoretical…

Reviews domestic "ethnic" psychological literature. Draws attention to recurring problems that impede progress in research. Claims that many problems arise from the use of labels that lack meaningful definition and validity. Offers guidelines in conducting research in which ethnicity is a variable. (RJM/Author)