The first of a series of columns which will describe the progress of a longitudinal research project on the writing process funded by the National Institute of Education for two years. (DD)

Research methodology is discussed in the context of the nature of the knowledge that is needed about visually impaired children. (Author)

Scientific rigor, including research design and data analysis, has been established and can now be applied to careful investigations outside the laboratory. This rigor can assist in studying the areas of human development and behavior. Without it, research in natural environments will continue to be inadequate and inaccurate sources of knowledge.…

Critical features of sound observational studies fall under three categories: the sampling framework; the theoretical model; and the statistical procedure. If the methodology for explanatory, rather than descriptive, observational studies can be applied within these categories, more consistent, convincing, useful explanations of educational…

Theory pertaining to human development suggests that, as students advance through the secondary-school grades, the learning structures should become less restrictive. This research examines the extent to which "structure" within the secondary school environments changes in accordance with growth in students from year 8 to year 12. (Editor/RK)

Recent studies are examined for methodological adequacy in establishing dimensions of individual differences in information-processing abilities, and the theoretical problems involved in inferring psychological processes from individual difference dimensions. Methodological inadequacies include use of small samples, questionable procedures in…

Teaching styles in New Zealand and Queensland, Australia, are considered within the framework of basic value orientations--industrial, social, academic, and humanistic. (Editor/RK)

The teacher who holds enlarged perspectives is regarded more highly than the teacher whose views tend to narrow perspectives. Since children will be influenced by their teacher's attitudes, an examination of the variables related to enlarged perspectives in teachers is pertinent to a broad education. This research looks at those variables among…

Compares pupil control ideology--discipline policy--of middle school classroom teachers with the intent of finding what attributes are needed for middle school teachers and the particular type classroom environment that facilitates optimum learning conditions for middle school children. (Author/RK)

The teacher of English as a second language can perform valuable language research in the classroom. Types of research include: natural language acquisition; small-scale pedagogical intervention; and large-scale methodology in long-range studies. Procedures for formulating research questions, hypotheses and design are outlined. (CHK)

Research based upon the concept that teaching consists of separate, enumerable acts has proven the opposite: that it is composed of interrelated activities and influences. (MJB)

Research on job analysis and on the application of that data to the problem of selection test construction has grown out of its infancy. However, there is insufficient evidence for the sole use of any method for the construction of a content valid test. Proposes that multiple methods of job analysis be used and specifically that a task-oriented…

Attempts to ascertain whether small group, individualized instruction based upon an identified reading weakness was more effective than regular classroom instruction in terms of student reading achievement scores and in terms of student attitudes toward reading. (Author/RK)

In an effort to determine whether the Dolch list of basic sight words continues to reflect the majority of the words in basic readers, this study was undertaken to calculate the percentage of Dolch words in four basic reader programs published since 1970. This would make it possible to decide whether the Dolch list is still viable for recently…

Clarifies a general approach to understanding teaching effectiveness research, outlines the requirements of the kind of research that is believed likely to result in verified generalizations about the primary dimensions along which effective and ineffective teachers vary, and provides an example of the kind of research it is believed is needed.…