ERIC Number: ED245859
Record Type: Non-Journal
Publication Date: 1984-May
Pages: 21
Abstractor: N/A
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: N/A
Toward the Construction of a Research and Development Agenda for Rural Education. Draft.
Stephens, E. Robert
Until the quantity, quality, and utility for policy development of research literature on rural education is improved, the potential for furthering the current national momentum of interest in rural education cannot be realized. Explanations for the limited research literature include a lack of appreciation for differences between rural and urban schools, rural education's limited appeal in the academic community, the small number of professionals who devote careers to continuous rural education study, little networking in professional and research communities, no perceived crisis in rural education, no consensus concerning foci of rural research, and limited research support from the National Institute of Education. Essential steps in constructing a research agenda are developing paradigms to guide future inquiry, and developing initial consensus concerning substantive centers of needed work. Themes suggested for concentration are problems of minority and special populations; characteristics of effective rural schools; characteristics of effective leadership; determinants and consequences of interorganizational collaboration; and support for claims that rural schools are superior because of greater individualized instruction, greater community involvement, and local control. Initiatives that would elevate the current status of research include developing a meaningful taxonomy of rural schools, supporting university research centers and journals specializing in reporting rural education research, and establishing a process to promote vital initiatives. (NEC)
Publication Type: Opinion Papers; Speeches/Meeting Papers
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A