The main features of a multiple site, structured case study design are presented. The nature of explanatory patterns, how case study investigators pursue and recognize valid patterns, and how an analyst can apply the same logic to cross-site analysis are discussed. (Author/BW)

Using 11interacting parameters containing a wide range of variables, teacher education programs can be displayed in a matrix, which provides a device for ordering, summarizing, and synthesizing available literature and for generating new questions for research. Construction and uses of the matrix are illustrated. (MT)

An examination of the scientific basis of both control group designs and comparative designs in outcome research reveals that comparative designs generally have fewer threats to validity and provide a more efficient means of control for nonspecific treatment factors suggesting that comparative studies warrant a larger role in the study of…

Responding to the the McFaul and Cooper article on peer clinical supervision, the author points out that their negative findings could have resulted from inadequate research design. (MD)

Intended for use on Conversational Monitor System (CMS), the Tukey FORTRAN program facilitates pairwise comparisons among means following a significant Fratio in an analysis of variance. Tukey's statistic can be obtained by entering information regarding the design and analysis of variance results. Two variations are also available. (Author/BS)

Four research models used by schools to study writing across the curriculum are compared and discussed briefly, reasons for conducting such research are considered, and recommendations are provided for those interested in conducting similar research. The models cited were used in New Jersey, Toronto (Canada), and Perth (Australia). (PGD)

Examines problems and concerns of cross cultural counseling and psychotherapy. Raises specific questions concerning research designs and approaches, differences in cosmology, epistemology, differences in nosology, and problems of evaluation or testing. (JAC)

The authors argue that a parameterization in terms of cell means is a useful conceptual device for resolving problems inherent in the nonorthogonal analysis of variance. They demonstrate their argument by considering two widely-used methods for testing main effects. (Author/BW)

Presents an alternative approach to the life cycle which avoids the creation of monolithic age categories and exclusive reliance upon the unidimensional index of chronological age. Data exemplify the potential utility of age status graphing in understanding the life cycle. (JAC)

Considers alternative strategies for optimizing statistical power in applied psychological research, including increasing sample size, combining predictors, and increasing alpha. Concluded that a priori power analysis should be a major consideration in any test of an hypothesis. Alpha level adjustment should be viewed as useful for increasing…

Investigated the consistency and loci of leniency, halo, and range restriction effects in performance ratings in a longitudinal study. Policy supervisors (N=90) rated 350 subordinates on five occasions. Concluded that reliable variance in mean ratings is partly attributable to ratees, but mainly introduced by raters. (JAC)

The central idea of evidence-based education--that education policy and practice ought to be fashioned based on what is known from rigorous research--offers a compelling way to approach reform efforts. Recent federal trends reflect a growing enthusiasm for such change. Most visibly, the 2002 No Child Left Behind Act requires that…

This paper presents a discussion of various statistical concepts and techniques in light of two propositions. The first is that researchers need to select analytical techniques that prevent them from committing Type VI errors, which are inconsistencies between the research question and the statistical analysis. The second is that many statistical…

This paper presents results from a preliminary investigation in which researchers manipulated the cover story of an open-ended assessment that required students to design an experiment. Participants were 27 sixth graders from a culturally diverse urban school. In one version of the cover story, students were asked to design an experiment to test a…

This handbook presents current explanations of how each survey program of the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) obtains and prepared the data it publishes. The handbook aims to provide users of NCES data with the most current information necessary to evaluate the suitability of the statistics for their needs, with a focus on the…