Reports on an effort to develop indicators for vocational education. Recommendations include (1) the process of indicator development must be continuous; (2) the need for both reflective thought and experience is important to indicator development; and (3) some of the indicators must be pushed to the stage of actual use. (Author/CT)

Discusses various software packages which help science and mathematics students make sense out of data (formulating hypotheses, interpreting graphs, analyzing possibilities, and collecting data with real-time graphing). Includes a list of commercially available programs for the areas, with program name, publisher, grade level(s), price, and…

Utilizing individual data drawn from the Israel labor mobility survey and assigning workers to primary and secondary sectors on the basis of occupational prestige scores, earnings functions are estimated and compared for the two sectors. Results strongly suggest that the dual labor market hypothesis may be relevant for Israel. (Author/CT)

Discusses the general characteristics of database management systems and file systems. Also gives a basic framework for evaluating such software and suggests characteristics that should be considered when buying software for specific scientific applications. A list of vendor addresses for popular database management systems is included. (JN)

This article focuses on futures-oriented methodologies that can be used in applied vocational education research. After a discussion of several conceptual issues, methodologies having major implications for applied research are identified. These methodologies are compared and contrasted to determine which one might be most useful for a particular…

Discusses Ward's article on the potential usefulness of social science researchers for government agencies' analysis of public opinion. Emphasizes the need to gather representative data and suggests that researchers can take a proactive role by using a theory of social behavior such as Bronfenbrenner's. (CB)

Describes elements to look for when reading four identifiable sections of a research report: background and literature review, methodology and procedures, analysis, findings or summary. Literature review as prologue to author's argument, choices in design of a study, research participants, choices involved in analysis, and implications of findings…

Examines the psychometric properties of two procedures for reducing data from the Brazelton Neonatal Behavioral Assessment Scale: factor and cluster analysis. The sample consisted of 85 male and 77 female newborns. (RH)

Outlines the recent transition, within educational research, from conflict to cooperation between quantitative and qualitative approaches. Asserts that compatibility is based on a confusion between method as technique and method as logic of justification. Argues that the claim of compatibility cannot be sustained and blocks an interesting and…

Nine steps are reviewed in the decision to buy computers and software for schools: define your needs, compile detailed requirements listing, develop a request for proposal, identify vendors, submit request for proposal to various vendors, compare results, identify several possible systems, set up live demonstrations of software and hardware,…

Describes four experiments of conditions under which irregular spelling or pronunciation influence two reading tasks--naming and lexical decision. Concludes that such irregularities only influence the reading of lower frequency words and that recognition of a large class of higher frequency words is insensitive to irregularities of spelling or…

Examines the two-finger extension as a hand shape in sign language by analyzing data on 10 different sign languages. The analysis shows that a theory of marking can be developed for sign languages along the same lines as those used for spoken languages--only the particular physiology is different. (SED)

To provide a model for analyzing the educational experiences of high school students, this article presents a profile of academic, vocational, and miscellaneous courses offered, and their enrollment, in four Nebraska school districts. Statistics are presented for subject areas within the above categories. Suggestions for applying the model are…

Computer generated data representative of 16 Auto Regressive Integrated Moving Averages (ARIMA) models were used to compare the results of interrupted time-series analysis using: (1) the known model identification, (2) an assumed (l,0,0) model, and (3) an assumed (3,0,0) model as an approximation to the General Transformation approach. (Author/BW)

Existing data on illegal immigration in the U.S. is inadequate. The limited availability of macrodata on the size of the annual flows and of the accumulated stock of individuals as well as of microdata on their influence on selected labor markets has been used to forestall policy reform efforts. (Author/RDN)