The emergence of a new, naturalistic, paradigm of inquiry has led to a demand for rigorous criteria that meet traditional standards of inquiry. Two sets are suggested, one of which, the "trustworthiness" criteria, parallels conventional criteria, while the second, "authenticity" criteria, is implied directly by new paradigm…

Accuracy, interpretability, and user friendliness are some of the relevant criteria used to determine the comparative worthwhileness of three computer programs designed for interpreting the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-Revised. (Author/ABB)

Replies to comments by David Rush concerning the effectiveness of a WIC program in improving pregnancy outcomes among Massachusetts women. (GC)

A survey of former Advanced Placement students from the high schools of Mesa, Arizona, showed they felt very positive about their experiences and found them helpful to their college work, though many felt insufficiently prepared for the Advanced Placement tests and believed improvements were needed in the program. (PGD)

An evaluation process and model are described for formative evaluation of gifted programs. The model incorporates two approaches: process-oriented evaluation which defines essential program components and standards of acceptance and outcome-oriented evaluation which assesses components via student outcomes. (CL)

Analysis of the inservice education conducted by live New York City districts revealed that training for classroom special education teachers lacked most characteristics of quality inservice training, while the training for administrators and resource room teachers had many of the criteria found in effective inservice education. (Author/CL)

Evaluaton of teacher inservice is considered and several principles are offered, including that evaluation must be needs-based and innovative. The importance of three functions of evaluation is stressed: (1) planning, (2) implementation, and (3) impact. (CL)

Schedules of 844 mildly handicapped elementary school students were analyzed to describe the degree of appropriateness of mainstreaming practices. School variables were then investigated in relation to appropriate scheduling. Data analysis revealed that very few students had appropriate mainstreaming schedules but that "good" scheduling was found…

Examined the effects of a short term, church-based program in relation to three program goals: increased sex information, heightened self-esteem, and clarity of personal sexual values. Using a pre-posttest, control group design, significant positive change in sex information and clarity of personal sexual values were found. (Author/BL)

Describes problems in implementing placebo controls in psychotherapy including the difficulty of ensuring that therapists and their patients will view both the experimental and placebo treatments as comparably credible. Considers six research issues stemming from the definitional requirement that the placebo control for the critical and specific…

Provides a professional model for practicum supervision using supervisors with equal responsibility and status. The model stresses the use of professional knowledge in both the content and process of practicum supervision. Dual-focus supervision is seen as the integration and application of theory congruency and interpersonal dynamics. (Author/BL)

The author urges human resource professionals to think and act strategically to market themselves more effectively. The following elements of such a strategy are discussed: operating philosophy, stakeholders' expectations, departmental capability, program profiling, the grand strategy, critical success factors, impact elements, strategic…

In evaluating its science program, an independent New Jersey school was successful in using the model developed by the National Study of School Evaluation. (MD)

Offers practical suggestions for minimizing 14 problems that frequently occur when curriculum programs are evaluated. Timing evaluations, evaluating appropriate factors, making meaningful comparisons, meeting skepticism, selecting tests, selecting evaluators, assessing evaluation results, and maintaining credibility are among the concerns…

A multi-element cross-age tutoring program involved handicapped adolescents as tutors of elementary school handicapped children in areas of reading, language arts, and mathematics. Program evaluation results suggested that the program can be readily implemented in public school districts, and that it is effective in enhancing scholastic…