In the UK there is much concern about the educational progress of children from areas of significant social disadvantage entering primary school with impoverished language skills. These children are not routinely referred to speech and language therapy services and therefore education practitioners in schools deliver intervention to facilitate…

A study investigated the attitudes normal and disabled readers have toward reading to determine if differences existed between the two groups. Subjects, 40 normal readers and 40 students from remedial classes in grades 3 through 6, each completed the Estes Attitude scale. The results indicated a significant difference in attitudes toward reading…

Elementary school children (n=336) were assessed on their self-efficacy beliefs. Mainstreamed mildly handicapped students reported lower academic and social self-efficacy than their nonhandicapped and gifted peers. No differences in academic self-efficacy were reported between gifted and nonhandicapped students; however, gifted students reported…

The strengths and weaknesses of five typical machine-scored test formats are discussed, specific recommendations for format selection are made, and reasons for the importance of format are examined. (MSE)

A study examined the revisions made in expressive and persuasive compositions by 14 good and 14 average writers in grades 5, 7, and 11 to determine if grade- or ability-related differences occurred in the quality and kinds of revisions made and if revisions differed for the two types of compositions. Students wrote compositions one day and revised…

Procedures for predicting academic achievement at Indiana University, Bloomington, are examined, based on data for the 4,145 freshmen who entered the university in fall 1983. Three sets of prediction equations and a graphic scheme for determining probable first semester grade point averages (GPAs) for males and females are provided. Entering…

Examines attitudes of first-year Michigan State University students about the importance of foreign language (FL) study, focusing on possible differences according to measured abilities to use the English language, amount of success in previous high school FL study, sex, racial/ethnic heritage, major, and anticipated college-level FL study. (LB)

Research suggests that special tests of reasoning ability are superfluous. Reading comprehension and algebra scores on common aptitude and achievement tests are highly correlated with scores on several reasoning tests. Furthermore, three programs in reasoning skills have been shown to improve reading comprehension scores in various settings. (MCG)

A study was conducted to assess the effect of contrasting mastery learning procedures on the reading achievement of high and low ability students. Subjects were 48 high and 40 low ability first grade students randomly assigned to either a typical commercial basal reading series mastery treatment or an alternative mastery learning treatment that…

This paper summarizes evaluation data of at-risk student outcomes within the California State University (CSU) System in terms of student retention and academic performance. Findings concerning student retention are presented in the following areas: retention by ethnicity and by admission basis; retention by entering test performance; and the…

A study was conducted to investigate the differential predictability of academic success between those who transferred to a private multipurpose university from two-year colleges and those who transferred from four-year institutions. The study looked at success after one academic year, using Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) scores and grade point…

Describes study that compared the achievement of high and low ability eighth-grade students working cooperatively during computer-based instruction. Homogeneous and heterogeneous grouping based on ability are explained, posttest results are analyzed, and implications for instructional design are discussed. (23 references) (Author/LRW)

A study of the relationship of learner characteristics to success in beginning English examined the language aptitude, learning motivation and attitudes, spatial relations, study habits, and years of English instruction of 97 seventh-grade students in a Thai government school. The analysis focused on these variables as they related to the…

Examines relationships between student interests and aptitude in selected academic fields and their success in intensive courses on these subjects. Discusses a two-year study of 33 mathematics students and 32 literature students in the eighth and ninth grades in the Soviet Union. Shows that differentiated, intensive study did not strengthen…