Many researchers, wishing to generalize to large numbers, have turned away from Piaget's measurement techniques to group paper-and-pencil tests. The psychometric properties of these tests and their statistical links with other constructs are examined, along with the relationship between the observed products of mental effort and their underlying…

A study of education students at University of Ife, Nigeria, indicated that (1) the subjects did not bring a "tabula rasa" knowledge of the course content into the study and (2) the course led to knowledge gain even after the effect of preentry knowledge was "partialed out" from end-of-course knowledge. (Author/BW)

Assessed five alcoholism scales derived from the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory for their ability to classify accurately alcoholics and non-alcoholic psychiatric patients. The alcoholic group was divided into self-committed and court-committed. Depending on how the data were treated, found only one, or none of the scales accurate.…

Presents several multivariate analyses of variance (MANOVA) test procedures. Discusses guidelines for choosing an overall MANOVA test statistic and post hoc tests that determine the dependent variable or variables responsible for any significant effects. Concludes that guidelines based on recent comparisons of the various test statistics be used.…

Examines the differences between researchers and practitioners in the field of educational television, assesses the value of current research to television producers, and concludes that cooperation between researcher and practitioner is necessary for effective communication with the audience. (JJD)

A plea is made for increased field studies in education. Some of the problems are outlined: time and working hours, conflicting research paradigms, interpersonal relations in institutional settings, and financial and moral support. Examples are drawn from studies in South Australia. Solutions to the problem of reciprocal…

This review of Arthur Jensen's "Bias in Mental Testing" focuses on alleged serious deficiencies in the book: errors of omission, problems with some arguments, misuses of methods, and insufficient rationale for the use of certain methods. The reviewer cautions against use of the book as an authoritative textbook. (CM)

Provides information regarding the production and properties of the Dictionary of Occupational Titles (DOT) data to facilitate the assessment of their appropriateness for research. Reports on assessments of validity and reliability, a factor analysis of characteristics, and possible sex bias. Cautions about using the DOT to study changes in…

Reports that the results of a study that used both classical and naturalist experimental approaches yielded quite different linguistic pictures of the same children. (JL)

The naturalistic perspective is concerned with the "micro" world of the school and classroom interaction and neglects the material determination of the phenomenological world. Advances in understanding the social world are more likely to occur if social research adopts the methodological apparatus of scientific Marxism. (JN)

Methods of assessing effect size and the flows that limit their usefulness are discussed. The various statistical procedures for estimating variance accounted for are based on different statistical models producing sharply differing results. The methods reflect too greatly the particular study characteristics and hence have limited…

After considering how an estimate of learning potential (ELP) is derived from the System of Multicultural Pluralistic Assessment, shows that most of the characteristics of ELP deemed to be important are generated by statistical artifacts. Notes that the fundamental assumption underlying ELP is without supportive evidence. (Author)

Reviews recent trends in grade organization and factors to consider in examining changes at the district level. Cites the lack of empirical evidence supporting any one form of grade organization as a reason for the range of patterns found in American school districts. Offers guidelines for accomplishing grade organization change. (Author/WD)

Hintzman's 1980 attack on certain analyses in memory research is based on doubtful presumptions, namely, that contingency tables are inherently suspect as evidence for or against scientific conclusions and that pressing this logical argument is in some way an acceptable substitute for empirically examining the conclusions in question. (Author)

Taking issue with the preceding article by Caruso and Detterman, the author contends that research can be one of many respected voices in the political process. According to him, recent research on the effects of early education has played a crucial role in policy decisions about Project Head Start. (Author/WD)