Student retention has become a difficult issue within higher education. As such, it is imperative to examine the causes, as well as provide educators with strategies to implement to improve retention rates. "Critical Assessment and Strategies for Increased Student Retention" is a pivotal reference source for the latest progressive…

This study examined the roles of 3 multilevel motivational predictors in proteges' personal learning in teams: an autonomy-supportive team climate, mentors' autonomy support, and proteges' autonomy orientation. The authors followed 305 proteges in 58 teams for 12 weeks and found that all 3 predictors were positively related to the proteges'…

Discusses research related to identifying early predictors of school success or intelligence. Reports on a study that suggested correlations exist between how babies process information (visual attentiveness) in the first six months of life and the child's performance on intelligence tests in school. (ML)

Reviews studies related to problem solving in science education. Discusses findings in the areas of investigative methods, improvement of problem-solving abilities, task variables (puzzles, problems), and subject variables (cognitive structures, developmental factors, disposition). (ML)

To investigate the factors determining why some children succeed at certain intellectual tasks while others of equal or near equal IQ, age, and motivation are unable to master the same task, 145 female and 144 male eighth grade students were administered "An Inventory of Piaget's Developmental Tasks" (IPDT). Labeled as concrete,…

The primary purpose of this monograph is to describe how learning curves can be applied to vocational evaluation procedures to enhance the reliability and accuracy of performance prediction. Particular emphasis is placed on describing two techniques known as the "best 20 percent method" and the "Performance Analyzer and…

Discusses a study that examined the role of four cognitive factors (formal reasoning ability, prior knowledge, field dependence/independence, and memory capacity) on achievement in chemistry as measured by tests of lab application, chemical calculations, and content knowledge. Reports the significance of prior knowledge and formal reasoning…

Reexamines the traditional role of observation in science and science education. Proposes that since observation is based on some view of the world, it is not innocent and unbiased, but theory-dependent. Discusses possible implications for the science curriculum when reconsidering the role and status of observation in science. (TW)

Describes an analysis of test items used to measure the science process skills of 11-year-olds in Great Britain. Concludes that the level of cognitive demand was a reliable predictor of the difficulty of an item. (TW)