Based on studies conducted by teachers and graduate students at Northeastern University, this book offers a comprehensive overview of the kinds of research being conducted by writing teachers, as well as extensive information on how this research has affected their professional lives. The chapters are divided into five parts dealing with the…

A previous study of pre-equating the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) using item response theory provided unacceptable equating results for SAT-mathematical data. The purpose of this study was to investigate two possible explanations for these unacceptable pre-equating results. Specifically, the calibration process, which made use of the…

A fundamental problem in the study of spontaneous speech is how to segment it for analysis. The segments should be relevant for the study of linguistic structures, speech planning, speech production, or communication strategies. Operational rules for segmentation should consider a wide variety of criteria and be hierarchically ordered. This is…

Naturalistic impromptu speech is difficult for researchers to analyze because it is difficult to observe. Further, it is impossible to create two similar communicative situations across languages for contrastive analysis. The experimental compromise is the extension of traditional contrastive methodology from elements of grammar to elements of…

This handbook of research findings and practical suggestions is written for teachers, educators, and psychologists who are concerned about computer literacy for adults. Based on a federally funded research project, the handbook focuses on the computer needs of non-traditional adult learners over 25 years of age. The first section examines…

One in a series of issue papers commissioned by the Council of Administrators of Special Education (CASE), this document presents a comparison of contemporary evaluation approaches for special education programs. The first section describes the two approaches to be compared: (1) traditional scientific inquiry which emphasizes quantitative methods;…

A project was undertaken at Miami-Dade Community College (MDCC) in Florida to develop new student follow-up methodologies and to field test these methodologies in order to increase the accuracy of placement and follow-up data supplied to the state; to reduce the number and percent of former MDCC students falling into the "unknown" placement status…

Instructional communication research may be examined from the perspective of teacher effectiveness research, based on three dominant 20th-century philosophical traditions: logical empiricism, interpretive theories, and critical theory. Since at least 1896, scholars have used empirical research methodology (largely "logical empiricism," modeled…

The purpose of this study was to evaluate college student attitudes toward the PHOENIX computer-based education system and to gauge the instructional effectiveness of computer-assisted instruction (CAI) achievement and testing in a variety of disciplines in a university setting. Data for the study were obtained from 400 students enrolled in five…

This paper discusses the theoretical scope and practical applicability of generalizability (G) theory through the principle of symmetry. Major ideas are summarized and factors hindering applications of G theory in research conducted in French-speaking Europe are presented. The principle of symmetry affirms that any factor of a design can be…

This project studied the feasibility of using microcomputers for gathering and transmitting farm record information to the analysis portion of the Farm Business Management Analysis (FBMA) program in Missouri. Considerations were given to improving the accuracy of data submitted, the turnaround time to complete the analysis, and other factors…

This study investigated the possible contribution of pictures serving a representation function to the recall and retention of information presented in written prose passages. The primary variable considered was the durability of picture effects; a second variable concerned the potential effect the presence of pictures had on the recall of…

The Sales and Marketing Education organization of AT&T Communications conducts ongoing research to monitor the impact of their National Teletraining Network (NTN) programs for professional sales personnel on: (1) learning, (2) student acceptance of courses and instructors, and (3) student willingness to take additional teletrained programs.…

This study compared the effects of interactive video instruction on learner performance and attitude with the effects of conventional computer assisted instruction (CAI) and stand-alone video. Based on pretest scores, 134 junior high industrial arts students designated as relatively high or low in prior achievement were randomly assigned to one of…

This study was conducted to determine the accuracy of learners' comprehension monitoring during computer-based instruction and to assess the relationship between enroute monitoring and different levels of learning. Participants were 50 university undergraduate students enrolled in an introductory educational psychology class. All students received…