Compared alprazolam, imipramine, and placebo in the treatment of panic disorder patients (n=59) to investigate concerns about the internal validity of the double-blind design. Found that the great majority of patients and physicians were able to rate accurately whether active drug or placebo had been given and physicians could distinguish between…

Explored hypothesis that husbands with lower levels of emotional involvement with their families are less likely to participate in research. Administered questionnaires to wives (N=57) of husbands refusing to participate in study and wives (N=120) of husbands who willingly participated. Found nonparticipant husbands rated as less emotionally…

Provides introduction to special section of journal on new ideas about how to analyze change. Reviews Rogosa's (1988) myths of longitudinal research. Includes overview of other articles in the section that emphasizes what is new and improved in design and analysis of change. (Author/NB)

Simulations show effects of variability on the maximum contingency that can be displayed by an average 2 X 2 table. Results help explain the regularity known as the Tulving-Wiseman law, as well as conditions under which exceptions are found. Dangers posed by variability and Simpson's paradox are discussed. (SLD)

Presents the phenomenon of ethnographic countertransference as an often overlooked aspect of qualitative research. Claims that researchers working in a qualitative paradigm must learn to recognize their own unconscious ethnographic countertransference as a source of information and bias, and use it effectively as a source of information. (EMK)

Addresses concerns about the trustworthiness of research results derived from image-based data, particularly questions of validity assessment. Compares examples of such research to provide an illustration of these issues. Presents a tentative strategy for ensuring trustworthiness based on five criteria: completeness, interpretive adequacy,…

Questions whether preparation was adequate for the field research of squatter community schools and personal ethics and bias in the study. Also examines issues related to which researchers and scholars will gain access to South Africa to provide support and assistance and undertake research now that apartheid has ended. (MMU)

A response to criticisms on preparedness for the field study of squatter community schools in South Africa is presented. Included in the discussion are the ethical stance, the equity of inclusion to conduct research in South Africa, and departure from the field. (MMU)

Argues that a previous study of preservice teachers' beliefs about the nature of science (NOS) was interpretively and methodologically faulty. Contests the finding that teachers learned the NOS through implicit instruction, and questions the methodology leading to the assertion that teachers intended to include NOS instruction in their lessons.…

Answers a critique of a previous study of teachers' beliefs about the nature of science (NOS). Reasserts that teachers in the study learned the NOS through implicit instruction and contends that there was negligible researcher bias in the finding that teachers planned to include NOS instruction in their instruction. Defends the choice of…

Discusses the philosophical strengths and weaknesses of Laudan's normative naturalism, which understands the principles of scientific method to be akin to scientific hypotheses, and therefore open to test like any principle of science. Contains 19 references. (Author/WRM)

In this same "Kappan" Issue, Walberg and Greenberg mistakenly allege that Success for All was developed for ulterior (financial) motives, is based on questionable research, and has had poor results. Literacy achievement has not risen for 70 years. Success for All is no panacea but is tackling this problem. (10 references) (MLH)

Success for All, evaluated highly in several cities, has received unfair criticism. Opposing the process for developing, evaluating, and disseminating effective programs to high-poverty schools (particularly highlighting flaws in a tiny subset of studies) merely sows doubt and misinformation about a most promising reform development. (Contains 44…

Inquires into empirical, functional, and theoretical arguments made to substantiate theses of retreat, loss of meaning, or untimeliness of general pedagogics. Discusses recent propositions for reorganizing general pedagogics as a subdiscipline of educational science. Argues that general pedagogics could lead to new pedagogical interrelations if…

The historic origins of measurement are traced, and the basic requirements for fundamental measurement are outlined. Studying the history of social science measurement shows specific pitfalls the researcher must avoid. Applications of item response theory to social science measurement are discussed. (SLD)