The predisposition of higher education has been to maintain homogeneity and adapt only when necessary. The credibility of an institution's commitment to diversity and quality is weakened when it limits access of minority groups. Creating pluralistic communities will involve fundamental change and require a greater capacity to deal with conflict.…

Describes a simulation method for estimating recall and fallout in a document retrieval system. Earlier research on simulating document retrieval systems is reviewed, examples are presented of the current method, a probabilistic justification of the method is given, theoretical concerns dealing with retrieval precision are discussed, and further…

Presents results of a survey of graduate library education programs conducted by the University of Missouri-Columbia to determine off-campus teaching practices and policies. A review of the literature on distance education in library and information science is included, and further research is suggested. (Seven references) (LRW)

The controversy surrounding the use of facilitated communication with individuals having autism is addressed and the inconsistent results obtained are explained by a collaborative view of communication which stresses the role of situational variables. A research plan for studying the phenomena associated with instances of apparently successful…

Describes what reflective teaching should look like, offering 12 critical attributes that indicate a teacher's stance toward reflection and 4 assumptions upon which the attributes are based. The paper discusses the utility of the attributes in terms of a research agenda and teacher education program decisions they might inform. (SM)

Argues that experts in philosophical and psychological paradigms can and do contribute to revisions of theories of moral excellence and that the study of prototypes has limited value for resolving some important theoretical issues. Describes research topics that can be informed by the investigation of prototypes of moral excellence, such as social…

Explores the differences between e-mail and paper mail, focusing on audience, interface, and rhythm of response. Argues that technological change triggers other changes in a system, creating discomfort, and that this discomfort should not prevent English and writing teachers from studying and accepting e-mail as a legitimate site for writing. (RS)

The director of the Duke Clinical Research Institute (North Carolina) is committed to making better use of patient information for medical research, and is building a database from the institute's clinical trials. His approach is to provide biomedical researchers with daily involvement in medicine rather than management. (MSE)

Analyzes the media-effects research published in this journal during the last 25 years via meta-analysis. Finds that, as children age, they better understand media messages; mass media are a significant source of learning; and media can influence attitudes. Discusses political, social, and educational implications, as well as implications for…

Describes a study that was conducted to describe and analyze how college students reacted to mathematics instruction delivered through the Internet, and their perceptions concerning the potential of the Internet to teach and learn mathematics. Suggestions for further research are included. Contains 53 references. (Author/LRW)

Examines the range of knowledge about retirement-related issues that exists among various employee groups within a particular organization. Finds that education was a strong predictor in determining employees' knowledge. Discusses implications for future research regarding the development of materials designed to educate employees about…

Introduces the first issue of this publication, explaining how the "Quarterly" reflects the goals of the Commission of the National Center for Education Statistics for the agency. Reviews goals of quality, predictability, usefulness, and timeliness. (SLD)

Reviews the status of literature on technology education in ERIC and other databases and the content of key journals. Critiques the quality of articles; identifies a focus for future research and the improvement of publishing in the field. (SK)

Response to criticism of oral grammar correction in second-language (L2) instruction which argues that while there are challenges and complexities in providing effective feedback, error correction should not be abandoned. Continued systematic, rigorous research to investigate whether different types of feedback are more effective, and to what…

Examines the role of higher education in lifelong learning, drawing on current research and theory. While the literature emphasizes continuing professional education, it inadequately addresses how the sequence and character of initial and continuing education contribute to lifelong learning. Research should explore changing demand for lifelong…