Research Productivity and Student Evaluation of Teaching in Social Science Classes: A Research Note

Research on the relationship between research productivity and student evaluations of teaching (SETs) has been marked by several shortcomings. First, research typically fails to check and adjust for nonlinear distributions in research productivity. Since approximately 15% of researchers account for most articles and citations (e.g., Zuckerman, H., Handbook of Sociology, Sage Publications, Newbury Park, CA, pp. 511–574, 1988), this failure might explain weak or nonsignificant findings in some of the past research. Second, the unit of analysis is typically the instructor, not the class. Since top researchers might disproportionately teach small classes at the graduate level, and that SETs are usually higher in such classes, the small relationships between research excellence and SETS found in previous research may be spurious. The present study corrects for each of these issues. It analyzes data from 167 classes in the social sciences and on 65 faculty. The quality of research productivity (raw citations/post-PhD year) is not related to SETs. However, when the distribution of citations is corrected for skewness, a significant positive relationship between research productivity and SETs emerges. This relationship survives controls for course and instructor characteristics, and holds for both the faculty member and the class as units of analysis. This is the first systematic investigation to demonstrate a significant relationship between the quality of research (citations) and SETs.     

Faculty Research Productivity: Exploring the Role of Gender and Family-Related Factors

This study explores the role of several family-related factors in faculty research productivity for a large, nationally representative sample of university faculty members. The role of marriage, children, and aging parents is examined after controlling for other personal and environmental factors, such as age, rank, department, and intrinsic motivations to conduct research, that previous research has shown to influence research productivity. Analyses are conducted on a sample of 8,544 full-time teaching faculty (2,384 women and 6,160 men) at 57 universities nationwide. Results show that factors affecting faculty research productivity are nearly identical for men and women, and family-related variables, such as having dependent children, exhibit little or no effects on research productivity.     

A Review of Studies in Science Education in Singapore: 1971 - 1990

Research should play a central role in decision making. Practitioners as well as policy makers can illafford to ignore the importance of research, particularly those involving the local context, in informing practice. Contextual differences are often incurred when overseas research findings are imported. A very strong case can therefore be made for more local research studies for use within the local context. There is, however, a dearth of local studies in science education over the past two decades. This paper attempts to briefly survey the field to account for the impoverished state. It will then review some thirty-six research studies carried out in Singapore spanning the period from 1971 to 1990—these representing the studies where documentation were available—with the view of pooling together the findings of the studies and eliciting trends for the benefit of future research efforts as well as enlightening practice and policy.     

高校合并前后科研生产率动态变化的Malmquist指数分析

高校合并的高潮已渐渐平息,合并的成效成为研究者关注的焦点。本文Malmquist指数刻画我国高校合并前后整体科研生产率的动态变化,并进行“追赶效应”、“规模效应”和“增长效应”分解。基于实证分析结果指出,技术进步与创新是提高我国高校科研生产率、推动科技能力进步的重要因素。     

The Development of Science Education Research in Brazil and Contributions from the History and Philosophy of Science

Over the last 50 years a new research area, science education research, has arisen and undergone singular development worldwide. In the specific case of Brazil, research in science education first appeared systematically 40 years ago, as a consequence of an overall renovation in the field of science education. This evolution was also related to the political events taking place in the country. We will use the theoretical work of Rene Kaës on the development of groups and institutions as a basis for our discussion of the most important aspects that have helped the area of science education research develop into an institution and kept it operating as such. The growth of this area of research can be divided into three phases: The first was related to its beginning and early configurations; the second consisted of a process of consolidation of this institution; and the third consists of more recent developments, characterised by a multiplicity of research lines and corresponding challenges to be faced. In particular, we will analyse the special contributions to this study gleaned from the field known as the history and philosophy of science.     

国外科学教育中传感器技术教学研究及启示

传感器技术在科学教学中的广泛应用使得与之相关的教学模式、实验内容、教学理念、教材开发等发生了很大的变化,引起了学界越来越多的关注。为弥补国内学界对此探讨较多但对国外这方面研究状况较为缺失的不足,在文献研究基础上,对科学教育中传感器技术相关术语及其概念进行了简要的界定,概括了教育领域中传感器技术的发展,从学生概念学习和能力考察、教学模式、教师教学使用情况、教师培训模式等方面梳理了国外基于传感器技术的教学研究的特点,主要体现在:以基于传感器技术的概念转变、能力考查为核心研究内容,以教学模式的探究为重要内容,以教师使用情况的调查为有力保障,以师资培训模式的探索为新动向。在此基础上分析我国传感器技术的教学应用研究现状,提出相关建议,以期为我国相关研究提供有益的启示和借鉴。     

20世纪90年代以来我国家庭教育研究进展述评

20世纪90年代以来我国在亲子关系、家长教育观念、家庭教育方法、家校合作等方面的研究较为丰富,但对家庭教育研究方法、家庭教育评价标准的研究极为欠缺,我们应积极探索家庭教育研究的新方法。     

Gender Gaps in North American Research Productivity: Examining Faculty Publication Rates in Mexico,Canada, and the U.S.

The present study addresses gender gaps in North American research productivity, which may be influenced by personal and family variables, as well as professional and work-related variables. The study was conducted as part of the Changing Academic Profession (CAP) International Survey, conducted in 2007–08. Using articles as indicator of research productivity, we analyzed the gender gap in publication rates among full-time higher education faculty in our combined sample (Canada, Mexico, and the United States). This analysis has implications for higher education policy. In terms of research productivity, the relative productivity rates of male and female academics have been a policy priority for many years to increase the cumulative rates of research activity. We found that the variables related to research intensity varied by country, providing a more nuanced understanding of the gender gap between male and female faculty.     

数据挖掘技术在美国院校研究中的应用

数据挖掘是一项新兴的技术,是商业智能的重要组成部分.近年来,随着教育决策对量化分析和研究结果的愈加依赖,这项技术在美国高校管理和院校研究中的应用越来越广泛.许多研究表明这项技术能帮助大学管理人员更好地分析数据,从而获取潜藏的、有用的信息和知识,最终提高决策效率.     

试论地方院校产学研的合作教育

产学研合作教育在我国经过近20年的探索和实践，已积累了比较丰富的经验。在这一前提下，地方院校根据自己的办学特点和办学宗旨实施有鲜明时代特色和区域特征的产学研合作教育，不仅为谋求地方院校的自身发展闯出了新路，也带动了地方产业的发展，成为实施“科教兴市”、“科教兴企”的突破口。     

90年代以来英国高等教育研究的动向

20世纪90年代以来,英国高等教育研究蓬勃发展,研究阵地迅速拓展,研究成果丰硕,出版了一批值得重视的成果;英国高等教育研究者采用多样化的研究方法、重点关注8类问题,反映了英国高等教育研究的动向,可供我国高等教育研究者参考。     

Research Circles: Supporting the Scholarship of Junior Faculty

This article describes and assesses “Research Circles” as a mechanism for enhancing faculty collegiality and research. Recently established on our campus, these circles, composed of three to four faculty members, have had a particularly powerful effect on the new faculty members' adjustment to their tenure track positions, especially since they entered a context that might otherwise have been challenging: a new interdisciplinary upper-division campus with high expectations for teaching excellence. Based on the end-of-year evaluations, journals, and focus groups, the co-authors described themes that emerged from their participation in these circles. Circle participation not only facilitated faculty writing throughout their first year, but it also fostered the development of an interdisciplinary community which nurtured creativity and risk taking in writing. All authors are currently teaching in Interdisciplinary Arts and Sciences (IAS) at The University of Washington, Bothell (UWB). Except for Diane Gillespie, Professor and Associate Director of IAS, all other authors are Assistant Professors in IAS. Diane Gillespie received her Ph.D. in cultural and psychological studies in education from The University of Nebraska, Lincoln. Her interests include critical pedagogy, narrative psychology, and cultural diversity. Nives Dolšak received a joint Ph.D. in public policy and political science from Indiana University. Her interests include public policy, environmental policy, and international relations. Bruce Kochis, received his Ph.D. in Slavic languages & literatures at the University of Michigan. He focuses on global human rights policy, discourse analysis, and political theory. Ron Krabill received his Ph.D. in sociology and historical studies from New School for Social Research. His interests include comparative media, politics and social movements with a special emphasis on South Africa, as well as the study of peace, conflict, social justice, and human rights. Kari Lerum received her Ph.D. in sociology from The University of Washington. Her interests include culture, organizations, sexuality, qualitative methods, and visual studies. Anne Peterson received her Ph.D. from Washington University. Her interests include urban politics and policy and the distribution of natural resources at the local level. Elizabeth Thomas received her Ph.D. in psychology from The University of Illinois at Urbana—Champaign. Her interests include community-based resources for adolescent development, cultural psychology, and the social context of learning.     

Managing Productivity in an Academic Institution: Rethinking the Whom,Which, What,and Whose of Productivity

Drawing on a review of scholarly literature, this article suggests rethinking productivity in academic institutions along four dimensions: the productivity of whom, productivity for which unit of analysis, productivity according to what functions, and productivity in whose interests. It offers principles for promoting enlightened discussion and pursuit of productivity at all levels of the organization. In contrast to the dominant discourse, which emphasizes focus, centralized standard measures, and accountability, the bias in my principles is toward balance, decentralized diversity, and recalibration. I suggest the ideal is not for employees and units to produce to centrally managed objectives but for all individuals and units to manage individually and collectively to design their work to improve their productivity along multiple dimensions.     

消防期刊科普教育的可读性探讨

消防期刊,是消防宣传阵地上的一支主力军。随着社会的发展和进步,群众的消防安全意识也在不断提高,对优秀消防期刊的需求也就越来越迫切。消防期刊如何在保证其专业性的基础上,努力体现公共科普特色,增强可读性和趣味性,以群众喜闻乐见的表现形式进行消防知识的宣传教育,显得尤为重要。基于此,文章从消防宣传工作的实际及消防期刊的特点出发,就如何增强消防期刊的可读性问题试做探讨。     

Finding Fruit on the Vines: Using Higher Education Research and Institutional Research to Guide Institutional Policies and Strategies

This is the first of two articles that examine the utility of higher education research to help guide campus-based interventions to enhance institutional effectiveness. This first article describes the organizational context and sequence of events, which set the stage for the interventions that were implemented at this public research university. It next delineates the interventions implemented in areas related to enrollment management. Finally, the first article describes the effects of these interventions. The second article, which follows immediately in this issue, outlines programmatic efforts undertaken to enhance the quality of the first-year experience for new students.     

思想政治教育是生产力的研究评述

思想政治教育是一种精神生产力,是一种科学形态的生产力。思想政治教育具备了生产力构成的各要素,体现了“精神变物质”的哲学思想。将“思想政治教育”联系“生产力”概念,有利于使思想政治教育理论适应社会主义市场经济发展的需要,推动思想政治工作的现代化。“思想政治工作和科学技术是推动生产力向前发展的主驱动轮。”因此,将思想政治教育工作作为生产力研究,具备鲜活的研究价值。     

九十年代以来教育现代化理论研究述评

对九十年代以来中国教育现代化理论进行梳理,从教育现代化的概念、起点和关键、内容和特征、区域化和本土化、背后的逻辑假设等方面综述分析,对其中值得注意的问题进行思考、评价.     

Externally Funded Research in Counselor Education: An Overview of the Process

“Publish or perish” is a phrase familiar to untenured and tenured faculty alike. In recent years, prominence has been placed on academicians to secure external funding for their research and training projects. The counselor education field has not been immune to this call for externally funded projects. This article includes strategies for seeking and receiving external funding for counseling‐related research in an effort to help counselor educators flourish in a paradigm that increasingly calls for greater external funding. Emphasis is placed on gaining knowledge and experience with federal funding agencies.     

Faculty Productivity Barriers and Supports at a School of Education

All programs in a midwestern university recently embarked on a path to help increase the scholarly productivity of faculty. The effort to develop a research emphasis within the School of Education required determining the needs of tenure-track faculty regarding meeting the new requirements. The purposes of our study were to investigate these needs and identify the individual, environmental, and leadership factors that affect faculty productivity. Findings revealed a need to transform the School’s service and teaching culture to a culture of research and scholarship. Recommendations for helping other schools of education to become more research-oriented are provided. While the study focuses on data from a particular School of Education, the implications may generalize to faculty productivity within other institutions, particularly within professional schools. Susan A. Santo  received a Ph.D. in Instructional Technology from the University of Virginia and is currently an Associate Professor of Adult and Higher Education at the University of South Dakota. Her research interests include faculty productivity in higher education and improving distance learning. Mary E. Engstrom  received an Ed.D. from the University of South Dakota in Curriculum and Instruction. She is currently the Associate Director of Extended Learning Services at the University of Montana. Her research interests include instructional design for online learning and professional development for educators. Linda Reetz  received an Ed.D. from the University of North Dakota in Teacher Education and serves as the Associate Dean of the School of Education at the University of South Dakota. Her research interests include higher education practices for teacher education programs and mild disabilities. William Schweinle  received a Ph.D. from the University of Texas at Arlington in Psychology and serves as an Assistant Professor at the University of South Dakota. His research interest area is in statistics. Kristine Reed  received a Ph.D. from the University of Nebraska at Lincoln in Curriculum and Instruction/Administration and serves as a faculty member in Curriculum and Instruction, University of South Dakota. Her research emphases include multicultural education and rural education.     

Faculty Entrepreneurialism and the Challenge to Undergraduate Education at Research Universities

This study attempts to unravel the complex relationships between faculty entrepreneurialism and teaching. Specifically, this study (1) compares the extent of entrepreneurial activities (i.e., using funds for research and consulting activity) across disciplinary fields and levels of teaching commitment and (2) examines the relative effects of faculty entrepreneurialism on commitment to teaching. Using a national database of four-year college faculty, research findings demonstrate variations of teaching commitment with respect to disciplinary fields and forms of entrepreneurial activities. More important, this study reveals rather strong negative relationships between using funds for research and teaching commitment. Such findings have important implications for policy makers, administrative leaders, and university faculty as they seek to balance the institution's instructional mission in light of the increasing trend toward entrepreneurialism.