The terms "rigor" and "relevance" most often surface in discussions of methodological adequacy. Assessing epistemological relevance is equivalent to answering the question, "Is this particular research question worth asking at all?" Epistemological rigor refers to the properties of a "researchable" problem.…

This paper introduces key concepts in the field of moral stage development and presents highlights from a long-term research project on moral discussion, and, particularly, on the role of transactive discussion in moral development. The main objective of the research was to identify those features of moral discussion (defined as transactive) that…

This study of musicology develops computer programs, data, and procedures for using the computer in the field of thematic indexing. The thematic index is a means of identifying anonymous works, arranging and cataloging the works of a particular composer or genre, and collating the varied manuscript and printed sources of a particular form or…

The major concern for any research model, whether disproportionate or not, is the research question and how well that question is reflected by the model. Three "exact solutions" for disproportional situations, the hierarchial, unadjusted main effects, and fitting constant methods, are discussed in terms of the research question that each…

Different approaches to economic assistance for developing nations have been used over the years. These basically involved building institutional structures such as those found in developed nations and the introduction of investments and industrialization. The Interuniversity Research Program on Institution Building studied various aspects of…

The author makes suggestions for two types of educational research and offers guidelines for carrying out and writing up the research. His first suggestion is a topic for research: the development of an authoritative definition for three terms: (1) regionally identified demand for workers, (2) articulation between secondary curriculums and related…

This panel's goal was to improve the validity and utility of measurement, design, and analysis in research on teaching through the stimulation of new methodological knowledge and through the identification and translation of useful existing knowledge from other descriptions. This panel tried to identify as many methodological problems as possible…

Techniques for detecting synergistic effects in analysis of variance designs are presented and discussed. These techniques make it possible to apply some kinds of theoretical insights to the data analysis phase of a study: either by seeking synergistic effects implied or predicted by theory, or by seeking evidence of synergies as alternative…

Researchers have long been aware that "pretest sensitization" is a potential threat to the external validity of experimental studies. Only recently, however, has it been suggested that "posttest sensitization" might also limit the generalizability of results. This latter phenomenon would exist to the extent that the effects of…

The author reviews research which examines a specific aspect of achievement arousal concerning the variable, "self-importance" of immediate activity. It also examines the relationship between "self-importance" and "future-importance"--that is, the extent to which possession of a certain personality attribute is believed necessary for achieving…

A statistical model for analysis of multiple time-series observation is briefly outlined. The model incorporates a change parameter corresponding to intervention or interruption of the dependent series. The additional time-series are included in the model as covariates. The practical application of the procedure is illustrated with traffic…

The purposes of this study were to examine strengths and weaknesses of research methods used in reports of follow-up studies in higher education and to develop a set of guidelines for conducting follow-up studies in higher education. A careful examination of the literature was conducted to identify follow-up studies in higher education and 47…

This study examines the fakability of the Edwards Personality Inventory (EPI). Results indicate that Edwards was not successful in his attempts to control for social desirability. (CK)

A study was made of the use of consumer credit by Home Demonstration Club (HDC) members in Blount County, Tennessee, as a basis for planning educational programs. Data were secured by group interviews from 237 Home Demonstration Club members representing 24 clubs. The data were classified according to the members use of consumer credit: those who…

This report outlines the requirements for a comprehensive, objective, and integrated guide to design of library physical facilities. It then presents a research plan directed at development of three products: (1) an authoritative catalog of the present knowledge of library functions, elements, and techniques of design as they relate to library…