Research in Education–Federal Support

This article summarizes the areas of educational research sponsored by the federal government and describes some projects of special significance.     

Generating social capital at the workplace: a South African case of inside-out social renewal

The concept of social capital, and its role in the development of political stability and economic growth, has become a topic of increasing interest in state, business and community sectors alike. Within this body of discourse, though, it is generally assumed that the influence of social capital is from the ‘outside-in’: that social capital is generated within institutions of civil society and is beneficially utilized by private and public sector organizations. Through a case study of a South African industrial organization, this paper provides an example of ‘inside-out’ influence where social capital generated by collaborative forms of social organization at the workplace, is distributed across family and community structures. The authors argue that this process, whereby civil society becomes a beneficiary of social capital produced in business and industrial workplaces, offers new policy options for social renewal especially within societies that have subjected to civil unrest and/or prolonged periods of oppression of some kind.     

A Matter of Degrees

Abstract

The purpose of this investigation was to determine the extent to which computers assist high school students in learning English language vocabulary. The experience describes an experimental investigation conducted in a Teacher‐Training Practising Secondary School in Cameroon on the use of computer‐assisted software to teach English vocabulary. Specifically, the major thrust of this investigation was to compare the effects of using computers in the teaching of English language vocabulary with the conventional method of teaching. Students were split into two groups: an experimental group and a control group. The latter group received the conventional method while the former group was given the computer software application. Results indicated that there was very little significant difference in the academic performance of both groups. However, the experimental group demonstrated positive attitudes toward a computer and the software program.

Abstract français: Le but de cette recherche était de déterminer jusqu'o[ugrave] les ordinateurs peuvent aider des étudiants d'école secondaire à apprendre le vocabulaire anglais. L'article décrit la recherche conduite dans un institut de formation des maîtres du second degré au Cameroun sur l'utilisation de logiciels pour l'enseignement du vocabulaire anglais. En fait, l'objectif majeur de cette recherche était de comparer les effets de l'emploi des ordinateurs à cette fin avec les méthodes traditionelles de formation. On a divisé les étudiants en deux groupes: expérimental et contrôle. Ce dernier a reçu cette formation traditionelle, tandis que le premier a subi des applications de logiciels. Les résultats ont montré qu'il n'y avait pas de différence significative entre les performances des deux groupes. Cependant, le groupe expérimental a fait preuve d'attitudes positives envers l'ordinateur et les programmes de logiciels.     

Book Reviews

Open Access: Key Strategic, Technical and Economic Aspects Edited by Neil Jacobs Chandos Publishing, 2006. 250 pp. ISBN 1‐84334‐203‐0, £39.95, pbk ISBN 1‐84334‐204‐9, £57.00, hbk Selling Rights, 5th edn Lynette Owen Routledge, 2006. 384 pp. ISBN 978‐0‐415‐36280‐1, £75.00 hbk ISBN 978‐0‐415‐38652‐4, £29.95 pbk Bound by Law? Tales from the Public Domain by Keith Aoki, James Boyle and Jennifer Jenkins Duke Law School Center for the Study of the Public Domain, 2006. 76 pp. ISBN 0‐974‐15531‐4, $5.95, pbk. Freely available online at http://www.law.duke.edu/cspd Digital Preservation Marilyn Deegan Simon Tanner Facet Publishing, 2006, Digital Futures Series. 288 pp. ISBN 978‐1‐85604‐485‐1, £39.95, hbk.