Defines the heuristic model of research. Offers a comparison among phenomenology, hermeneutics, and heuristics in research methodologies. Describes the stages of heuristic research and addresses the potential contributions of this model to the field of art therapy and the personal and professional growth of the art therapist. (MKA)

Describes a qualitative study of preservice mathematics teachers' use of higher-order thinking as they used an interactive multimedia program based on a situated learning framework. Analyzes types of talk used by the students as they worked with the program and classifies it as social, procedural, and lower-order and higher-order thinking.…

Uses meta-ethnography to analyze the literature on transformational leadership, including sources specifically related to community colleges. Identifies the following themes, patterns, and connections that define transformational leadership: Creating a shared vision, communicating that vision, building relationships, developing a culture, guiding…

This qualitative case study focused on the nature of science learning through open-ended problem solving with eighth graders. Discusses results of interviews and observation that suggested students only partially derived accurate mental models, and makes recommendations for improving student understanding in open-ended environments. (Contains 95…

Two studies examined how children use talk to learn interaction patterns critical for the use of mental state terms. Qualitative analysis of mother-child talk revealed that criteria were presented in temporal, cause and effect sequences. Children who failed false belief tasks were less competent at recognizing and commenting on important aspects…

A qualitative 3-year case study followed three deaf interpreters in an inclusive school. Results of interviews indicated that, in addition to sign interpreting, the interpreters clarified teacher directions, facilitated peer interaction, tutored the deaf children, and kept teachers and special educators informed of the deaf children's progress.…

Introduces a qualitative spiritual assessment instrument. Reviews existing qualitative assessment tools and presents a new multidimensional spiritual assessment framework. The instrument consists of two components: a spiritual history for consumers and an interpretive framework for practitioners. Spiritual strengths that the framework is designed…

Although there is consensus that qualitative approaches to social research are distinguished from quantitative approaches by their fundamental philosophical systems, there is resistance to incorporating philosophical distinctions into graduate level research courses. Resistance may be due to the recognition that students have limited experience…

Focus group discussions offer participants time to discuss particular topics. This article discusses some results of several graduate students' attempts to implement focus group research. After a brief review of literature reflecting the use of focus groups and recommendations for their use, the author reports their reactions and their…

This study focused on the initial reasons individuals enter and complete the teacher education program, and pass the state test. These same individuals do not enter the public school classroom. This study identified meaningful categories for incidents reported as effective or helpful to successfully facilitating their decision to enter and…

This study investigated changing attitudes toward reading among elementary and secondary teacher candidates participating in in-class book group discussions in an introductory language and literacy course taught by two instructors in a medium-sized state teacher education program. Qualitative methods focused on both students' weekly self-reports…

The present article explores ethical issues that emerge in qualitative research conducted by applied psychologists. The utility and relevance of the Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct (American Psychological Association, 2002) for qualitative research are examined. The importance of psychology's fiduciary relationship with…

This article presents an overview of philosophy of science and research paradigms. The philosophy of science parameters of ontology, epistemology, axiology, rhetorical structure, and methodology are discussed across the research paradigms of positivism, postpositivism, constructivism-interpretivism, and the critical-ideological perspective.…

The Center for Technology and School Change (CTSC) is a research and development center specializing in professional development, evaluation and technology integration research. The goal of the qualitative research reported in this article was to identify factors that strengthen the integration of technology in classrooms in ways that are…

Using a qualitative case study design, this article explores the different meanings of quality that stakeholders brought to the process of planning online degree programs for a university system distance learning initiative and examines the impact of those different meanings on the resulting planning process and the resulting online degree…