Examines the basic tenets of qualitative, or naturalistic, research methods in terms of their grounding in social science and their value to library and information science research. Topics discussed include the research problems; data collection, including interviews; data analysis, including content analysis; theory development; and ensuring…

This survey of 1,601 members of the American Association on Mental Retardation analyzes the organization's journals ("American Journal on Mental Retardation" and "Mental Retardation") in terms of readability, usefulness in job, preferred type of content (e.g., research reviews, direct service discussions, philosophical…

Content analysis of the explanations given for their molestation by 84 female adolescent incest victims found no relationship between self-esteem or depression scores and whether subjects found an explanation for the molestation. However, type of attribution was related to self-esteem and depression, with internal attribution related to more…

Investigates trends in the number, types, topics, and sources of research articles published on blindness and early childhood development, 1980-1991. Most articles utilized descriptive methodology, covered a range of topics, were not databased, and were published in medical journals or Dissertation Abstracts International. (SM)

The comprehensibility, interestingness, familiarity, and memorability of concrete and abstract instructional texts were studied in 4 experiments involving 221 college students. Results indicate that concreteness (ease of imagery) is the variable overwhelmingly most related to comprehensibility and recall. Dual coding theory and schema theory are…

Examines sexual stereotypes in selected professional writing textbooks published from the 1930s to the 1950s. Maintains that these textbooks--portraying women as subservient, emotional, and frivolous, and men as decisive, logical, and strong--suggest that men are more suited for positions of authority, and have played an important role in…

Examines the importance of economic knowledge in understanding television network news and the concepts that television journalists use most frequently. Analyzes news content of 60 programs throughout 1987. Finds that over 12 percent of total news time was devoted to economic topics. Suggests that school curricula should emphasize economic…

This article reviews the research on components of problem solving including two mechanisms for fostering transfer of problem-solving strategies, low-road transfer and high-road transfer, and two types of content (domain specific and higher order thinking). Exploratory research on low-road transfer of higher-order thinking is summarized.…

Discussion of making judgments about other people and forming first impressions focuses on a study in Northern Ireland that was concerned with the accuracy of first impressions based on nonverbal information. The use of video recordings is described, and correlations between actual and observed characteristics are examined. (22 references) (LRW)

Examines the level of clash in the 1988 presidential debates through use of content analysis. Compares the findings regarding clash in 1988 with those from past decades. Concludes that criticisms of debates are overstated and that clash is a product of format as well as other factors. (SR)

Provides an overview of the external and internal constraints in relation to summarizing skills and student performance, and suggests pedagogical approaches to mediating the cognitive load. (30 references) (GLR)

Discusses teaching packages, which contain a variety of media resources, and how they can be evaluated through a surrogate teacher model. Evaluation strategies are reviewed, including content analysis, field tests, and pupil reports; the evaluation report is described; and use of this strategy in the United Kingdom is discussed. (Contains 30…

Uses content analysis of 1,391 articles published in leading journals between 1965 and 1989 to investigate women's scholarship in mass communication. Finds that the amount of published research by women has grown dramatically over the past two decades. Suggests few major differences between female and male scholars in research methods of published…

Presents an analysis of 30 children's picture books with ecology themes, intended for teachers who wish to use such books to motivate children to be problem solvers in matters involving their planet. Includes an annotated bibliography of the 30 books analyzed. (SR)

Investigates the 5 editions of John M. Lannon's "Technical Writing," a top-selling technical writing textbook for over 10 years. Claims that the text illustrates where the field has been and where it is going. Includes comments from Lannon concerning his book and how it responded to the social conditions of the 1980s. (HB)