Two ethical concerns about the Human Genome Project, which aims to sequence all the DNA of a human cell, are discussed: (1) use of germ-line gene therapy to treat perceived hereditary defects or enhance supposed genetic attributes, and (2) personal privacy and potential discrimination arising from possession of individual genetic information. (MSE)

Analyzes developments in the study of user needs to determine areas of consensus in the field, particularly areas of greatest value to practicing librarians. Topics discussed include the user; conceptual frameworks for information and knowledge; information seeking; the use of information and knowledge; system design; and future research needs.…

Describes a method for inducing a theoretical model of a series of events that occur in an ongoing process. A data analysis method that transforms narrative data into event histories is explained, a spreadsheet display that compares event histories is described, and future research is suggested. (17 references) (LRW)

Reviews the scholarly literature in cross-cultural business communication and discusses its shortcomings. Demonstrates the limitations of the Western, linear paradigms and expounds upon some inadequately researched and unresolved important questions. Develops 10 testable hypotheses for the 1990s. Advocates developing new paradigms and concept…

States and briefly discusses nine hypotheses concerning why the Reading Recovery program is successful. Calls for further research on why the program appears to work so that more may be learned about the program and the students it serves, and so that teachers can control the program instead of the program controlling the teachers. (RS)

In addressing the Governmental Accounting Standards Advisory Board, the National Association of College and University Business Officers' president urged the accounting standards boards to work together to establish a multiyear accounting research agenda for higher education. (Author/MSE)

Describes the development of a demonstration prototype Research Reference Interface (RRI) that was designed to assist novice instructional designers in justifying the instructional decisions of knowledge-based instructional design tools such as expert systems, decision support tools, intelligent job aids, and hypertext systems. Additional…

Discusses several weak spots in critical communication research. Argues that critical communication scholars should privilege journalism, engage in activism, and incorporate capitalism into the heart of their calculations. (SR)

Illustrates that the Poisson-lognormal model provides good fits to a diverse set of distributions commonly studied in bibliometrics and scientometrics. Topics discussed include applications to the empirical data sets related to the laws of Lotka, Bradford, and Zipf; causal processes that could generate lognormal distributions; and implications for…

Reviews research into climatic conditions that affect human physical, emotional, and cognitive performance. Argues that Australian educational research and policy have ignored potential adverse influence of thermal conditions on school outcomes. Educational research and policy should account for climatic factors, especially the interactions among…

Describes a study that was conducted to model the navigation patterns followed by users when retrieving information in hypertext systems. The development of two frequency distribution models is explained, the influence of search tasks on path patterns is discussed, and further research is described. (Contains 17 references.) (LRW)

Provides suggestions for college science faculty that may encourage educational research in postsecondary science education with an emphasis upon what kinds of research questions are worth pursuing. (PR)

Introduces special journal issue devoted to social and cultural diversity among adults aged 85 years old and older. Notes that four articles come from San Francisco 85+ Study and briefly describes the study itself as longitudinal study of community-dwelling older adults. Discusses revisions in four assumptions in the study of the oldest-old.…

Discusses the history of business and technical writing based on a survey of over 200 articles and books grouped into 13 categories according to historical period (from ancient times through the twentieth century). Presents suggestions for further research. (NH)

Argues that there should be room for both basic research and applied research in the field of business communication. Suggests asking whether such research is significant and adds value, rather than whether it is relevant. Explains what makes theoretical or basic research significant. (SR)