Discusses six issues faced by members of the Effective School Improvement project carried out in eight European countries. After posing questions that need further resolution, the article concludes that at this moment caution is advisable before transferring the findings from one context to the other. (SLD)

Guidelines for achieving significance in vocational education research include the following: (1) specify whose problem is addressed; (2) describe consequences of conclusions or recommendations; (3) involve those affected in the inquiry; (4) do not let statistical precision substitute for purpose; and (5) avoid research to justify political…

Steps in presenting evaluation recommendations are outlined. The steps include the following: the development of effective recommendations, the presentation of effective recommendations, and the effective following up of recommendations. (TJH)

A review of marketing education research 1936-91 illuminated areas of need for a research agenda in marketing education. A framework and proposal for future marketing education research were formulated. (JOW)

Program-theory approaches to evaluation have gained acceptability over the past 25 years as a means for examining conditions for implementation that are associated with better outcomes and developing detailed program theory. They have also gained confusion, as witnessed in the review of recent studies in this article. (Author/SLD)

Ideally, nursing research is disseminated to healthcare providers and used by nurses in direct patient care. Dissemination within and beyond national borders can be achieved through integrated research methods, creative global collaborations, international research conferences, emphasis on dissemination and utilization in clinical settings,…

Examines the publication records of eight classes of doctorate recipients in public administration and concludes that doctoral education and research is making a minimal contribution to knowledge and theory development in the field. (Author)

Provides a checklist to help clinical nurses critique research in order to use findings in practice. Categories include purpose of study, statement of problem, literature review, methodology, results and conclusions, and overall concerns (objectivity, ethics, readability). (SK)

Presents two types of fast-cycle curriculum development processes: research driven and stakeholder driven. Illustrates their application in the Bentley College business school's new course modules, elective courses, and graduate program on electronic commerce. (Contains 19 references.) (SK)

The student learning process is important in online learning environments. If instructors can "observe" online learning behaviors, they can provide adaptive feedback, adjust instructional strategies, and assist students in establishing patterns of successful learning activities. This study used data mining techniques to examine and…

Quantitative and qualitative research of a case study course confirmed that the course achieved a highly interactive learning experience, associated with more effective student support and high student retention. Computer conferencing achieved high participation from the beginning and evidence of dialogue and argumentation within online tutor…

A major tenet of both the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act and the No Child Left Behind Act is the identification and use of evidence-based practices, or those instructional techniques shown by research as most likely to improve student outcomes meaningfully. However, much confusion exists regarding the meaning and potential…

Using evidence-based practices, or those instructional techniques shown by research to improve student outcomes meaningfully, increases the performance of students with disabilities and should therefore be a priority for special educators. But how does a practice come to be considered evidence based? The unique characteristics of group…

This appendix accompanies "Gaining Ground in the Middle Grades: Why Some Schools Do Better. A Large-Scale Study of Middle Grades Practices and Student Outcomes. Initial Research Report." This appendix contains the full bibliography of all research and policy documents consulted during the development of the ten research domains and three…

Formative feedback systems live at the heart of systemic school improvement efforts. Without accurate and timely information on the results of intended interventions, school leaders and teachers fly blind in their efforts to link what they expect to what actually happens in their schools. This paper draws on the results of a 5-year National…