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ERIC Number: ED226611
Record Type: RIE
Publication Date: 1982-Dec
Pages: 192
Abstractor: N/A
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: N/A
Baker DeKanter Review: Inappropriate Conclusions on the Efficacy of Bilingual Education.
Yates, James; And Others
Methodological problems associated with the research cited by the Baker DeKanter Review of Bilingual Education (1981) are reported. The review concluded that there is little evidence supporting the need for bilingual instruction for language minority children. Given the widespread legal, fiscal, policy, and media implications of this conclusion, it is important that the evidence be analyzed. Each of the 28 studies cited to support the Baker DeKanter conclusion was analyzed in depth in regard to methodological soundness. Numerous instances of the following methodological errors were found: non-random assignment of subjects, high attrition of subjects, extremely small sample sizes, inappropriate measurement instruments or procedures, inappropriate pretest/posttest time frames, inconsistent design, lack of control of critical learning variables, variations in qualifications of instructional personnel, and lack of recency of the studies cited. Given these problems, the conclusions of the Baker DeKanter review should be questioned. Detailed reviews of each of the 28 studies are appended. (RW)
Publication Type: Reports - Evaluative; Opinion Papers
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A