An order form used in a university printing office was evaluated, redesigned, and tested to determine whether the original or the revised version could be completed more quickly and accurately. Two types of subjects were used: six "experienced" subjects who had previously used the old version of the form, and six "novice" subjects who had never…

Claims recent research involving premature editing--thinking aloud for the study--is too narrow in scope to allow for basic writers whose writing processes do not resemble the model. Using eight basic writers produces evidence to support the claim that many or most basic writers can write without editing prematurely.(NH)

Looks at the nature of introspective accounts and the usefulness of such accounts in studies of the composing process. Concludes that retrospective journal accounts are a rich source of information because they permit consideration of the complex context in which composing occurs. (FL)

A student's understanding of a problem before he or she solves it is a critical component of successful problem solving. This understanding is based on how a problem is represented; that is, whether a problem is understood in terms of principles or solution methods or whether the focus is on features that are irrelevant to its solution. In this…

Reviews research on thinking aloud in reading comprehension that considers thinking aloud as a method of inquiry, a mode of instruction, and a means for encouraging social interaction. Current efforts in engaging students in constructing meaning from text in collaborative discussions indicate the increased importance of social interaction in…

Discusses the components of a new methodology--consensual qualitative research (CQR)--which uses words to describe phenomena and which recognizes the importance of context. Locates CQR within the qualitative research tradition and details ways to develop a focused topic area, choose a team, attend to group dynamics, and other important issues.…

Offers methodological and epistemological suggestions regarding consensual qualitative research (CQR). Discusses the scope of CQR, the illusion of representativeness, dialogical understanding, the problem of commonality as a goal, and difficulties with the CQR consensus procedure. Epistemological concerns include the nature of truth, objective…

Discusses advantages and limitations of six usability evaluation methods (heuristic evaluation, pluralistic walk-throughs, formal usability inspections, empirical methods, cognitive walk-throughs, and formal design analysis) and six data collection techniques (verbal reports, concurrent think-aloud method, questionnaire, video analysis,…

Builds up a profile of causal development in 10-year-olds based on their recall of history and science texts in which the amount of causal connectivity differed. Finds that causal connections play an important role in expository text recall, and that subjects who have a strong causal profile also, generally, perform well in English. (PA)

Analyzes a real-life writing session involving a male executive in the construction business, his female secretary, and a male representing himself as a state official, working collaboratively to write a letter to a state official urging action on a long overdue claim. Discusses the quality of the drafts and the participants' roles. (KEH)

Examines changes in the newsmaking process following the introduction of an electronic newspaper library system. Finds that, although all journalists reported using clip files, 16 percent did not use the electronic library when it was installed. (RS)

Provides and describes the use of a "Proficient Reader Protocol" in the evaluation of the middle school reader. Defines the six main components that combine to make up proficient reading and shows how each component is measured by the protocol. Proposes implications for the classroom. (HB)

The thinking-out-loud procedure provides teachers with an excellent mechanism for collecting information about students' thought processes and affective states during problem solving. Mathematics teachers can implement this process by modeling it during whole-class problem-solving sessions, proceeding slowly and encouragingly, working with small…

This article first reviews the research establishing the need to sample text-level discourse in assessment of language abilities and identifies issues for clinicians constructing their own language sampling protocols. It then describes two protocols for use in school- and clinic-based settings, with examples of how these protocols have been…

Discusses the role of metalinguistic awareness in multilinguals within the framework of a systems-theoretic approach to multilingual proficiency. Data from trilingual adults on their use of certain problem-solving behavior in think-aloud protocols during the academic writing process are shown to provide evidence of certain processes taking place…