Reports an analysis of the methods and conclusions of articles published in Psychology of Women Quarterly from 1978 through 1981. Three paradoxes emerge from feminist psychology's commitent to contextual validity: the presumption of "progressive progress"; the implications of internal causes for social conditions; and the advancement of…

The Omnibus Reconciliation Act of 1981 provided for the consolidation of federal human service programs into block grants. A set of common issues has been proposed to provide a framework for evaluating the effects of block grant programs. These issues included funding, authority, administration, efficiency, effectiveness, and accountability. (DWH)

Twenty-four criteria are listed for evaluating curriculum for severely and profoundly retarded students. Criteria cover such aspects as verification, philosophy, functional nature, developmental orientation, age appropriateness, sequencing, long- and short-term goals, and domain specificity. (CL)

Discusses two points in response to the objections raised in the previous essay: (1) higher standards for argument are not justified and could create problems and (2) theoretical issues can and should be debated in individual debate rounds. (PD)

Focuses on the annual faculty review by the department head. Suggests how this procedure can become more meaningful and includes a Performance Standards form. (PD)

Factors that should be considered when choosing a music camp for students to attend are discussed. Questions that potential music campers and their parents should ask are provided. (RM)

A performance audit is a comprehensive examination of an organization or activity conducted by an independent evaluator to assess efficient use of resources (management audit) or effectiveness (program audit). (SK)

Describes types of courseware that are available and presents a checklist of evaluation criteria, considering program operation, program content, student outcomes, and pedagogical concerns. (SK)

Reviewed characteristics of peer evaluations and notes their striking industrial validity. A review of the conditions under which peer evaluations yield strong validity coefficients as well as certain factor analytic and experimental studies indicated that social comparison theory might be useful for elucidating the nature of peer evaluation…

Discusses the validity of evaluation procedures in this first of a series of four articles about critiquing publications. (AEA)

Compared the effects of tentative and absolute interpretations and two relatively noninterpretive counselor responses (summarization and restatement) while holding constant discrepancy and content of interpretation. Results from the ratings of undergraduate students (N=163) showed that counselors delivering tentative interpretations were not rated…

Expresses reservations about the model for assessing creative activities in evaluating teachers for promotion. (PD)

A comparison of pragmatic criteria (such as nonfluencies, revisions, delays, and inappropriate shifts) and traditionally employed surface-oriented criteria (morphological and syntactic structures) with 10 bilingual children (six to eight years old) referred for special education evaluation revealed that pragmatic criteria were superior predictors…

The teaching of history in school can be justified only if what is taught offers its recipients an introduction to historical thinking. This article attempts to identify briefly some of the more important elements in historical thinking, and to consider their implications for school teaching. (Editor/RK)

A refinement of Hofmann's paradigm for conservation training is proposed. It is suggested that a delayed learning task be utilized for assessing generalization. This, it is argued, would be also be a more preferable measure of whether or not new cognitive structures have been acquired. (Editor)