ABSTRACT
This volume honors Lee J. Cronbach—the man, the career, and the contributions. We have chosen to use the phrase “improving inquiry” in the book's title because it captures, for us, the goal to which Cronbach's life and work has been consistently and systematically dedicated. But there is also a distinct and coherent style to Cronbach's pursuit of this goal. In summary he would call it (and has called it) “straight thinking.” Hence our title for this introduction. Cronbach has improved all of our inquiries by straightening our thinking.
