Used meta-analysis of 60 studies to investigate the direction and magnitude of the relationships between a variety of school inputs and student achievement. Analysis finds a broad range of resources to be positively related to academic achievement and further suggests that moderate increases in spending may be associated with significant increases…

Supports the findings of a meta-analysis that demonstrates that student achievement is related to the availability of resources, disagreeing with criticisms of method and sample selection made by E. Hanushek (1996). (SLD)

Describes the debates about the quality and relevance of educational research, develops an interpretive analysis of the controversies, and clarifies a strategy for redirecting future research. Suggests several topics for future educational research, including learning in different settings, the changing contexts of learning, and learning in the…

Defines a cycle of assessment and action, and a continuum from formative to summative assessments. Illustrates problems caused when one assessment must serve both formative and summative functions. Argues that separating the collection of evidence from its interpretation, or the interpretation of evidence from consequent action, helps alleviate…

Explores how a lower school headteacher has developed her own form of leadership in the face of legislated changes to that role. Describes how she created a universalist role for herself, despite conflicting demands. Argues that the complex demands of the role promote the formation of composite forms of leadership. (DSK)

Examines the extent to which race is a factor of white parents' choice of schools in light of increased school choice in the United Kingdom. Reports mixed evidence of the degree and direction of the impact of school race composition on choice. Notes data problems contributing to this outcome. (DSK)

Recognizes that consumerist approaches to education are seductive and agrees that choice and standards are positive ingredients of educational provision. However, argues that official writing on school choice is decontextualized, ignoring the impact of social class, gender, and race. Discusses the personal and social impacts of each of these…

Examines the apparent paradox of young English people expressing positive attitudes about what they see as the imperfect organization of youth work-based training. Argues that people in the programs view them as one of their few means of advancement and, hence, rate them positively. Offers suggestions for improving training programs. (DSK)

Examines the possible roles and contributions of postmodernist thought to educational research. Models some of these approaches in its consideration of interviews collected during a project reviewing the careers of educational researchers. Provides a number of verbatim transcripts from the interviews and discusses their various narrative and…

Investigates the ethical issues arising out of a field research project on the educational experiences of Muslim girls in a private Muslim girls' school and a single-sex state school. Argues for a feminist and poststructural approach to the research process with the subjectivity of the researcher explicitly acknowledged. (MJP)

Develops from the observation of teacher-student interaction in classrooms a grounded typology of teacher feedback that provides a language to use in discussing feedback with teachers. Argues that the importance of this work is its contribution to the translation of achievement goal theory into practical terms for classroom use. (DSK)

Reports the results of an analysis of science-related writing tasks of boys and girls. Indicates there were gendered differences in writing style and content, but similarities in quality. Reveals a narrower gender gap than that found when observing science and writing separately. Discusses practices for minimizing gendered differences in the…

Examines the impact of innovations associated with the Education Reform Act (England) on the management of school change in primary schools. Documents growing tensions between collegial and top-down managerial styles based on quantitative data. Discusses ways to reconcile the emphasis on cooperative working within the context of increased…

Offers a retrospective deconstruction of research compromises undertaken during "quick and dirty" contract evaluation. Identifies constraining changes in the nature of research contexts and develops a positive view of methodological developments, that might create "transgressive validity." Considers notions of "hybridity" in research methodology…

The Southeastern Minority Trainer of Trainers program provides leadership training in three phases to African American community leaders in five southern states. Findings of little leadership change in Phase 1 and Phase 2 survey evaluations for three states were in contrast to results of focus groups at the conclusion of Phase 2 capstone…