A sample of 38 ninth-grade students was tested with a randomized response questionnaire designed to ask respondents sensitive questions with the assurance that responses would remain anonymous. Results of the investigation indicate that this technique can be used effectively with ninth-grade students and with large groups of individuals to obtain…

To examine common stereotypes about social work majors' attitudes about research and their quantitative skills, they were compared with social science majors in a social statistics course. Social workers were found not to be deficient in quantitative aptitudes and not to have negative attitudes about research. They performed better than social…

A social cognitive developmental model is presented integrating a Piagetian developmental model and Flavell's processing model, to describe three aspects of development. The utility of the model was tested in two studies. The results demonstrate that it is possible to increase children's social cognitive abilities instructionally. (Author/CTM)

Discusses conflicts that may arise when research is conducted in a university counseling center. Sources of conflict include philosophical assumptions about research, practical problems involved in carrying out the research, and ethical constraints. (Author)

Discusses the need for awareness of real and potential problems in educational evaluation approaches, kinds of problems there are with true experimental designs and with quasi-experimental designs, and the criteria applied by the Joint Dissemination Review Panel to its review of educational programs. (MF)

Describes three theories applicable to the study of human communication and nutrition education research: (1) communication effects perspective (applicable for evaluating short-term efforts); (2) social relationship perspective (applicable for evaluating long-term efforts); and (3) pragmatics (applicable to face-to-face communications). Includes…

Presents the argument that counseling is an instructional process and examines the implications of this position for counseling practice, counseling effectiveness research, and counselor training. An instructional counseling model for counselor training is described. (Author/RC)

These six articles focus on anticipated directions, topics and trends in family research and theory. Common themes include: (1) a continuing concern with family policy; (2) transactions and interconnections among families and institutions; (3) the need for consortiums and multi-disciplinary research groups; and (4) specialized individual research.…

Service utilization records, often used to determine American Indian psychiatric disorder patterns, can guide selectively focused research. A tentative psychiatric epidemiology research framework contains four major components: community collaboration, sampling techniques, instrument development, and implementation. Available from: White Cloud…

Factor analysis is of limited value in investigating the influence of students' implicit theories about teachers' behaviors on student evaluations of teachers. (MH)

Changing ideas on intelligence testing and the heritability of intelligence are followed through a fifty-year period. Common criticisms of intelligence tests are examined, but it is concluded that intellectual tests will continue to be of value in diagnosing strengths and weaknesses, particularly of exceptional children. (Editor)

Richard F. Thompson and Michael G. Southwell separately discuss William J. McCleary's article on reliability and validity problems in composition research (see EJ 210 755); Chris Madigan questions the data on composing processes of freshman writers reported by Sharon Pianko (see EJ 204 419); and C. T. Patrick Diamond examines the issue of the…

Conducting research into an area of personal disability provides the graduate student additional maturation and increased self-realization. The student is able to contribute to the corporate knowledge of the disability through integration of past experience with knowledge and techniques gained through professional education. (Author/MLW)

Present and possible future process-outcome research is assessed, with emphasis on methodological considerations. Compilation of detailed normative data about classrooms, and explication and integration of process-process as well as process-outcome relations are suggested. Studies designed with particular contexts in mind rather than classroom…

Four studies summarized are concerned with teacher use of secondary school libraries, the evaluation of a school/community library, selection tools for juvenile books, and effects of study of Mexican culture on students' perceptions of Mexican Americans. Three ERIC documents are also reviewed. (CMV)