Discusses the need of statistical training for engineering undergraduate students. Describes the six reasons to teach statistics. The methods for statistical quality control are presented. Twenty-three references are listed. (YP)

Subjected 81 research studies on Ivey's (1971) microcounseling program to a comprehensive meta-analysis, assessing the relation between effect size and the sampling distribution of several important methodological and substantive characteristics. Results suggest that the microcounseling program is educationally effective for teaching simple,…

This article presents results of a survey of 10 teachers which was designed to explore teachers' experiences with action research. Concrete examples of what it's like to do action research are viewed as a valuable resource for teachers and for teacher educators who teach action research courses. (IAH)

Argues that framing the issue of standards in terms of quantitative-qualitative debate is misguided. Discusses the possibility that the problem of standards is best framed in terms of the "logics in use" associated with various research methodologies. Presents five standards that can apply to all educational research. (JS)

Considers two ways of conducting the search for generalizations about messages: (1) single-message research designs used with meta-analytic summaries; and (2) multiple-message designs treating messages as a random factor in the statistical analysis. Contends that the treatment of messages as a random factor is statistically appropriate. (MS)

Replies to Sally Jackson, Daniel O'Keefe, and Scott Jacobs' article (same issue), maintaining that randomness requirements can not be relaxed for generalizing from message samples, since systematic samples are not truly random. (MS)

Describes the methodology and research design of SEE, the study of the Education of Educators. The approach is multimethodological, exploratory, descriptive, and evaluative. The research design permits examination of working assumptions and concentration on the individual site--the college, the education departments, and specific programs within…

This content analysis identifies trends in the kinds of research being conducted on gifted education. Major findings focus on: research reports as a percentage of the total literature, qualities of various computerized databases, varying topics of concern in non-research versus research literature, most frequently researched group, and most common…

This review and critique of the use of comparison groups in 57 studies of mental retardation family research addresses such issues as: matching on age versus competency of the mentally retarded family member, demographic equivalence of groups, research involving siblings, research involving mentally retarded parents, and appropriateness of…

A critique of a procedure developed by Becker and Williams (1986) for gauging the extend to which an organization's composition suggests discrimination. Their model and its associated statistical test suffer from two problems: (1) it is difficult to dismiss the null hypothesis of no discrimination; and (2) the model makes an overly simple…

This paper explains how to obtain generally robust and powerful analyses with any of the recommended nonorthogonal solutions by adapting a modification of the Welch-James procedure for comparing means when population variances are heterogeneous. Results from a Monte Carlo study support use of the procedure. (SLD)

Four general criteria are proposed for the choice of a metrical solution for a causal effect: (1) compatibility with the effect; (2) ease of communication; (3) lack of measurement error bias; and (4) stability across subjects and situations. These criteria are illustrated for randomized and nonrandomized designs. (SLD)

This paper, responding to Gathercole and Baddeley's commentary (EC 611 105), defends van der Lely and Howard's 1993 argument that deficits in verbal short-term memory (VSTM) do not cause children's specific language impairments (SLI). It is argued that while some children with SLI may have VSTM problems, the fact that many do not eliminates VSTM…

In a randomized clinical trial, a researcher can increase statistical power by including a covariate (or pretest) to reduce participants; however, this raises the cost per participant. A simple closed form expression is derived that applied researchers can use to answer the cost/benefit question. (JPS)

Contrasts modeling methods in control theory to the methods of statistical generalizations in empirical studies of human or animal behavior. Presents a computer simulation that predicts behavior based on variables (effort and rewards) determined by the invariable (desired reward). Argues that control theory methods better reflect relationships to…