Discussions of the barriers to completion in community colleges have largely focused on student success in introductory college-level math and English courses, and rightfully so, since these courses are typically required for degrees. However, there is a much broader range of courses that also serve as "gatekeepers" in the sense that they are…

Background: Chronotype refers to individuals' preference for morning or evening activities. Its two dimensions (morningness and eveningness) are related to a number of academic outcomes. Aims: The main goal of the study was to investigate the incremental validity of chronotype as a predictor of academic achievement after controlling for a number…

This study explored the relationship between students' high school mathematics courses and grades; the affective variables--mathematics anxiety, effectance motivation, and attitude toward success; and performance in the first quarter developmental studies algebra course. The study reports significant differences between males and females on…

This study was designed to identify variables which account for successful performance in a remedial community college mathematics laboratory. Mathematics pretest scores, mathematics skills test scores, attendance time, age, gender, and attitude were used to help predict achievement. The sample consisted of the total population in the mathematics…

Contends that the state of mathematics education is a crucial predictor of future national strength in science and technology and economic competitiveness. Compares the level of mathematics achievement of the United States with other countries. Advocates a national commitment for improvement and includes specific recommendations. (ML)

This study investigated the relationship of several affective variables as predictors of academic performance in mathematics. The predictor variables studied were: (1) attitude toward success in mathematics; (2) confidence in learning mathematics; (3) perceptions of teacher attitude; (4) mathematics anxiety; and (5) locus of control. The sample of…

In the State of Florida, the percentage of tenth grade students passing the Statewide Student Assessment Test-Part II (SSAT-II) Mathematics has declined one or two percentage points each year since 1985. Early, accurate identification and placement of these students for remedial instruction should help reverse this Florida trend. Accurate…

Examines factors related to computer anxiety measured by the Computer Anxiety Index (CAIN). Achievement in two programing courses was inversely related to computer anxiety. Students who had a home computer and had computer experience before high school had lower computer anxiety than those who had not. Lists 14 references. (YP)

During the 1978-1979 academic year, seventh- and eighth-grade students at 13 junior high schools in Southern Illinois participated in a study which provided data on mathematics achievement, student career interests, and parent attitudes toward their children as learners of mathematics. During the 1982-1983 academic year, these students (N=415; 196…

In cases of trauma, medical indexes are used by paramedics to report the condition of the patient to the hospital. Presents a scenario in which students act as paramedics at the scene of an earthquake and use the index called capillary refill to report the severity of the trauma and predict probable survival. (MDH)

Examined whether the relationship between selected affective variables and mathematics achievement was different for nontraditional college students (more than 25 years old) than for traditional students. Reports no significant differences for pretest/posttest between traditional/nontraditional students. Lists affective predictors for mathematics…

The purpose of this paper was to identify the role of several person variables (gender, mathematics competency, attitudes toward statistics, computer competency, and grade point average) contributing to success in introductory statistics. The performance of 103 students on four examinations during a semester constituted the dependent variable. A…

Describes an activity that introduces students to the use of database software to collect and interpret data. Asks middle school students to collect personal information regarding their dominant hand, eye, and thumb. Students use FIND and AND commands to create tables and respond to questions related to the data. (MDH)

Described is an activity designed to make the concepts of experimentation, independent variables, and dependent variables easy to understand by using observable characteristics of several rods to illustrate these concepts. (DS)

Analyzes the relationship between allied health students' (N=304) performance in general chemistry and the American Chemical Society's Toledo Exam (Form 1974), mathematical Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) scores, and high school chemistry grade. Also discusses use of findings to identify students who had a high risk of receiving low grades. (JN)