Wait time is the duration of pauses separating utterances during a verbal exchange. Paper reviews studies that involve wait time in a range of subject areas and grade levels. Wait time appears to foster higher cognitive level learning by giving teachers and students more time to think. (RB)

Ethnographic and survey analyses are used to assess the effects of academic stratification in secondary schools. Results indicate a need for longitudinal, quantitative research that is sensitive to actual dimensions of stratification in schools and to classroom conditions and processes that vary across levels of the hierarchy. (TJH)

Published since the mid-1960s, this review of the literature explores the historical dimensions of the Chicano educational experience in the southwest United States. Providing insights into its major themes and arguments, it is concluded that this field of professional study is still in its infancy, and possible subjects for future study are…

This review summarizes research findings on teacher receptivity to the implementation of changes in the educational system. Models of implementing change should include variables of teacher attitude and appraisal of change and perceived expectations and beliefs about educational issues. (SLD)

Review of 60 multivariate studies conducted in the Third World reporting on the aggregate influence of the school on academic achievement versus the influence of the family background. The relative influence of alternative school inputs and organizational practices is assessed, and a framework for evaluation is included. (SLD)

Review of research of between-class and within-class ability grouping on the achievement of elementary students. Ability grouping appears most effective for specific subjects with students remaining in heterogeneous classes most of the day. Cross-grade assignment for selected subjects can increase achievement. (SLD)

Slavin's 1987 review of research of between- and within-class ability grouping on achievement of elementary students is discussed, and its assumptions examined. It is suggested that recent theory and research make the Slavin review most useful from the perspective of historical analysis. (SLD)

The meta-analysis by A. C. Willig of bilingual education evaluation literature was not successful in comparison with and did not replicate the Baker and de Kanter narrative review. Willig's conclusion that bilingual education is effective is not supported by the analysis. (SLD)

This article examines the literature on achievement effects of practical applications of grouped-based mastery learning in elementary and secondary schools. The review found no evidence to support the claim that mastery learning improves student performance on standardized achievement measures. (RB)

A nontechnical exposition of graph theory is presented, followed by survey of the literature on applications of graph theory in research in education and related disciplines. Applications include order-theoretic studies of the dimensionality of data sets, the investigation of hierarchical structures in various domains, and cluster analysis.…

This paper reviews empirical research conducted during the past 15 years on the use of evaluation results. Sixty-five studies in education, mental health, and social services are described in terms of their methodological characteristics, their orientation toward dependent and independent variables and the relationships between such variables.…

This article finds the empirical review of the intellectual effects of family factors by Lala Carr Steelman wanting because (1) it is selective and incomplete; (2) it ignores systematic aggregate effects; (3) it imposes linear analysis on nonmonotone relationships; and (4) it disregards most of the confounds identified by Steelman as crucial.…

The author responds to criticism by R. B. Zajonc on a review of the extant literature on the intellectual consequences of sibship size and birth order. (Author/LMO)

This paper examines reports of empirical research on Feuerstein's "Instrumental Enrichment" (FIE) as a method of teaching thinking skills and asks what can be concluded from these reports with regard to: (1) the nature and statistical reliability observed FIE effects and (2) the "amount" of FIE for effects to appear.…

This article examines current thinking about learning within the framework of cognitive psychology and how a new, cognitive conception of learning can guide future research on both learning and instruction. Similarities and differences between behavioral and cognitive conceptions of learning are discussed. (Author/LMO)