Case Studies in Science Education used a combined research approach of case study and survey to address the question of the status of science education in the United States. Nine experienced researchers with backgrounds in anthropology, sociology, educational psychology, and science education conducted eleven case studies. These field researchers…

A number of examples are presented to illustrate a common flaw in the published research on learning, memory, and instruction. Experimental subjects--often college students--have certain expectations about the problems they will be asked to solve and about the questions that will appear on reading comprehension or recall tests; these expectations…

This paper represents two intentions: to discuss the need for theoretical advance in generational studies, and to make suggestions about expanding the design repertoire of generational studies in the interests of these theory developments. First, because generational phenomena on the face seem intransigent to experiment, a comment on…

Joreskog has developed a very general and powerful model and computer program for analyzing relationships among variables, called LISREL. Structural analysis of covariance matrices by Joreskog's LISREL method is proposed as an alternative to regression methodology in the analysis of aptitude-treatment interaction (ATI) data. LISREL resolves some…

Interactive Research and Development on Teaching (IR&DT) is an alternative Research and Development (R&D) strategy that probes the questions, problems, and concerns of classroom teachers in a nonlinear manner. Each of the primary functions of traditional R&D--research, development, dissemination, and implementation--are performed…

The scientific method is described as intending to be the guarantor of objectivity, neutrality, and diligent application of its rigorous procedures and to produce a body of cumulative knowledge that is systematic and general. The central argument of this essay addresses the discovery that research findings appear to be context-dependent; methods…

Methods of planning and administering mail surveys, developing questionnaires, and analyzing data are reviewed. Each review section is followed by an annotated list of selected readings. Topics discussed in planning a survey include decision making; survey designs; sampling plans; and ethical considerations. Developments of instruments and tupes…

These research projects, designed to delve into certain relationships between humans and computers, are focused on computer-assisted instruction and on man-computer interaction. One study demonstrates that within the limits of formal engineering theory, a computer simulated laboratory (Dynamic Systems Laboratory) can be built in which freshmen…

The premises of open education and related developmental and social issues are explained as an aid to educational practitioners in choosing the proper measurement and evaluation strategies for this philosophy. In addition, a position statement on evaluation is offered and the present status of educational evaluation is outlined. Some…

A number of potential threats to internal validity in true experiments are discussed. Programmatic research efforts proceeding from established correlational findings to experiments employing random assignment are described and used as referents in discussions of validity considerations. The collection of observational data is recommended for use…

Empirical information is presented on how researchers at Swedish institutes of education perceive, structure, and define educational and psychological problems. The collection, evaluation, and presentation of the results of the study were made on the basis of system theoretic assumptions in that the description and analysis of the initial phase of…

This paper argues for the inclusion of content analysis in communication research designs and for the utility of this methodology in the examination of communication events. The first half of the paper describes four types of communication content that can be analyzed: unintentional messages, such as the verbal imagery used; unconscious speech,…

Model identification of time-series data is essential to valid statistical tests of intervention effects. Model identification is, at best, inexact in the social and behavioral sciences where one is often confronted with small numbers of observations. These problems are discussed, and the results of independent identifications of 130 social and…

This study investigated the relationships obtained among verbal imitation, comprehension, and production when a stimulus sentence exceeded the child's short term memory. A total of 32 children, aged 3 to 5 years, took tests of comprehension, nonverbal imitation, verbal imitation, and production of structures expressing sequence ("before", "after",…

The author discusses a need for planning research in reading, since present research seems fragmented, the federal government has not functioned especially well in the area of planning for funding or coordination with professional organizations, and there is a need to attract scientists in a variety of disciplines to work in educational research.…