Support systems research has expanded its therapeutic horizons beyond the family, often using the concepts and methods of social network analysis. Recent network developments provide useful suggestions for support systems research in the analyses of social ties and social networks, and the implications of large-scale social structure for…

To investigate differences in the writing processes of novice and expert writers, a test of writing skills was developed that required subjects to write a business letter in defense of a particular system of public transportation in response to a letter objecting to that system. In the first of three experiments, significant differences were found…

This document was developed to (1) help clarify the various concepts of retention and attrition within a unifying conceptual framework, (2) synthesize the research on retention and attrition, and (3) examine the implications of the research for postsecondary administrators and researchers. Retention and attrition research pertains to both the…

This paper presents a model for conducting educational job analysis and the field test of that model on ten teaching fields. This model was tested for its ability to job analyze a teaching field's content knowledge according to federal employment guidelines. Differences between teaching and other job fields meant that actual time spent on a skill…

Results of a survey to determine student demand for religious studies content in introductory psychology and sociology of religion courses are discussed. The survey was administered to 382 members of the American Psychological Association and the Society for the Scientific Study of Religion. Respondents reported that approximately one-fourth of…

Intended as a source of information on matters related to the evaluation of literacy projects, this guide is designed to help evaluators keep a proper perspective on their work by proposing a wide range of options and suggesting directions for evaluations. The first two chapters of the guide deal with the general principles of evaluation and the…

This paper follows up on an earlier report that presented a theory on instructional processes that relied on a time metric. In this paper a design for field studies within this theoretical orientation is presented. Methods to obtain information on how teachers allocate time so that grouping and individualization strategies can be studied are…

Rules, procedures, and algorithms intended to aid researchers and practitioners in the application of generalizability theory to a broad range of measurement problems are presented. Two examples of measurement research are G studies, which examine the dependability of some general measurement procedure; and D studies, which provide the data for…

This introduction to the theory and application of multivariate analysis is designed to assist institutional researchers who are interested in using these techniques to analyze issues within their respective institutions. A brief introduction to multivariate theory, consisting of a rationale for multivariate statistics and an overview of selected…

The use of data on longitudinal student attendance patterns to determine variances, and hence confidence bounds, on student enrollment forecasts, in addition to finding the forecasts themselves, is demonstrated. The formulation of the enrollment model based on longitudinal student attendance patterns is described step by step, presenting the…

A system of interaction analysis, the Hit-Steer Observation System, was used to characterize interaction patterns of groups of teachers and principals. Evidence for an asymmetrically contingent pattern of interaction between the principals and teachers was provided by findings that principals made more verbalizations than teachers, as well as more…

The variety of searchable and printable formats of Educational Resources Information Center (ERIC) data base records has led to different searching methods, which have fostered the confusing state of affairs wherein different results are possible for the same search; this 5-part report describes an investigation of ERIC online use that studied the…

Approaches to educational research are grouped into five major categories. The process-product approach correlates teacher behavior with student achievement. Aptitude-treatment-interaction researchers believe that their research will identify instructional methods that are particularly suitable for students with specific aptitudes. Researchers in…

This manual introduces undergraduate students in political science to major types of data and methods for cross-national quantitative analysis. The manual's topic, Conditions for Effective Democracy, was chosen because it incorporates several different kinds of data and illustrates various methodological problems. The data are cross-sectional…

Combining community participation in decision making with methods of social investigation, participatory research focuses on involvement of the subjects of the research in the research process. Adult educators are exploring this research method which, unlike quantitative research, serves the needs of individuals and not those of policy makers who…