Argues that feminist psychologists not only do not have a uniform position on the issue of gender differences, but that many have argued for large gender differences. The article contends that meta-analyses indicate great variability in the magnitude of gender differences across different behaviors. (GR)

This article describes the status of qualitative research in applied linguistics and English as a Second Language (ESL), identifying trends through an informal survey of professional journals, an examination of relevant qualitative studies and research methods texts, and a presentation of the views of researcher methodologists. (88 references)…

Investigates scientific reasoning skills used by students in a naturalistic collaborative writing context and changes in students' reasoning discourse over time. Findings suggest that an understanding of socially constructed scientific reasoning skills is important for designing meaningful collaborative activities and assessments in science. (LZ)

It is recommended that student financial aid administrators undertake more research to improve their knowledge and control of their programs, understand the effects of policies, and help correct beliefs and attitudes. Choosing a research topic, creating credibility, and writing a complete report are discussed. (MSE)

Reports a study examining the relationship between affect and achievement for grade eight students in Australia (n=390). It was found that affect is related more strongly to previous than subsequent achievement and that much of the common variance can be attributed to students' perceptions of their competence in science. (PR)

An impressive interdisciplinary information base of learning disabilities (LD) research is developing, but a significant amount is isolated in journals not familiar to those in the LD field. The four existing LD journals need to seek LD research produced by related disciplines to serve as a research clearinghouse. (JDD)

In a sixth grade science classroom for able students, major grades are broken down into four categories: lab reports, projects, creative writing, and written tests. These four components of assessment structure how the curriculum content is presented. (JDD)

The Educational Resources Information Center Clearinghouse on Tests, Measurement, and Evaluation (ERIC/TME) provides researchers and practitioners with bibliographic citations for journal articles, conference papers, and reports on all aspects of educational testing, evaluation, and learning theory. The ERIC system and the ERIC/TME Clearinghouse…

Discusses the theory and research underlying the use of realistic and compressed images or representational images developed from 1950-80 using print, slides, and film media. Topics include the theories of visual realism, visual realism and instruction, and the foundations of visual compression. (20 references) (KRN)

The consistent application of sound criteria will increase the reliability of manuscript reviews, but many other factors contribute to low quality research articles. The central question must be whether or not the study was worth doing. Familiarity with the research domain is a necessity for appropriate research evaluation. (SLD)

The "Educational Researcher" is a forum for extended conversation among researchers about their common endeavors. Articles are models for reasoning about educational issues as well as arguments for particular conclusions. A call is issued for articles that present diverse perspectives and challenging critiques of topics of interest. (SLD)

Departing from J. Dewey's vision of communication, a gap between the language of researchers and the language of lay people and policymakers is identified. Ways of bridging the gap are defined, and the communications task of the educational researcher is reviewed. (SLD)

Presents a linguistic description of the schematic organization of 40 journal articles from three academic journals in computing research. Results indicate the introduction-methods-results-discussion research reporting pattern can not be applied to computer science articles, with the central part (methods- results) departing most from the…

Presents the Executive Summary of a report commissioned by the Software Publishers Association to summarize educational technology research conducted from 1990 through 1997. Conclusions are discussed in terms of general findings, effect on student achievement and motivation/self-concept, and effectiveness of interactions involving educators and…

Reports on a 1996 Ministry of Education study on the teaching of history in Quebec. Criticizes the study for perpetuating leftist biases in favor of multiculturalism and globalization while censuring the study of Western civilization as evidence of Eurocentrism. Discusses the implications of, and reactions to, the government report. (MJP)