Describes a study that used survey and focus group data to examine differences in perception of online group process and development between college students in Mexico and the United States. Discusses language, power distance, gender differences, collectivist versus individualist tendencies, conflict, social presence, time frame, and technical…

Through focus group interviews, a valuable method of developing client-focused initiatives, the most immediate needs of the faculty staff and students were identified and the collaborative effort between the College of Health (COH) academic staff and the liaison librarian began. Four key areas were identified: information sources/information…

The purpose of this article is to report findings regarding the needs of parents for information on communication development, to review the range of professionals whom parents frequently consult regarding communication development, to discuss the frequency with which professionals provide information on communication development to parents and to…

The present paper examines the experiences of teachers in teaching children with special needs in mainstream schools and how they see and evaluate the feasibility of the new integration initiatives in Hong Kong. The data are based on individual and focus group interviews with general class teachers, resource class teachers and principals of…

A multi-site case study of three Swedish schools examined the dimensions of trust, responsibility, shared power (democracy), and global workforce competence as required by a decade-old national education reforms. A key finding was the existence of progressive educational practices including constructivist epistemology, evidenced by the schools'…

This study focuses on the impact of race, and its intersection with gender, in influencing and/or preventing the development of disordered body image. Specifically, Black samples are examined to see the role that racial identity plays in the process of developing such attitudes. Using qualitative data analysis methods rooted in grounded theory,…

Podcasting facilitates the timely delivery of digital audio content such as MP3 files to a user's desktop, as it becomes available. The authors believe it holds tremendous potential as a low-cost, low-barrier tool for mobile ubiquitous learning, given the large uptake of portable music players. This paper explores some of the possibilities for…

In this paper, we draw on a 16-month study funded by the Learning and Teaching Support Network in the UK and entitled "Mathematicians as Educational Co-Researchers." The study's aims were two-fold. Primarily we intended to explore mathematicians' reflections on issues identified in the literature as highly topical in the area of teaching…

This paper explores the social ecological opportunities implied by segregated extended school year (ESY) summer programs for students with disabilities who, during the school year, attend inclusive programs in classrooms with nondisabled peers. Two primary grade students with severe multiple disabilities were observed in the classroom situation…

In February 1993, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting commissioned focus groups with Hispanic viewers to determine the perceptions of public television by Hispanics. The project was conducted by Norman Hecht Research and included Hispanic viewers and non-viewers in four cities--New York, Miami, San Antonio, and Los Angeles. The topic for…

The Toronto Board of Education's "Change Your Future" program started in spring 1991, targeting at-risk students belonging to racial minorities. The interventions took the form of group meetings and individual counseling by the "Change Your Future" counselor. The program took place in the Toronto Board over 2 school years…

One of the continuing problems and criticisms of human service disciplines is that they often separate research from clinical practice, as if the two had no connection or commonality. This article describes one way in which the two can be brought together for the benefit and empowerment of clients. Specifically, the article presents a model for…

Parents as School Partners is a volunteer research initiative of the National Council of Jewish Women and its research institute, called the Center for the Child. This initiative focuses on parent involvement to promote children's school success. This document contains a project overview and six accompanying reports providing a detailed…

This paper describes the second year of a 5-year study of the needs of individuals with disabilities as they relate to consumer products. The study employed focus group research techniques in which group members responded to issues and raised their own concerns regarding general products and equipment specially designed for persons with…

This is the final report of the National Council of La Raza's (NCLR) Focus Study examining the opinions, attitudes, and needs of Mexican American single women, relating to implementation of national welfare reform legislation. Over a 2-year period NCLR staff held focus groups with Mexican American women in four communities: Phoenix, Arizona; Mora,…