This study was designed to determine the effect of high school physics, the frequency of high school physics laboratory use, and high school mathematics background on the success of students taking first semester physics. Data were obtained from undergraduates (N=248) at Mississippi State University. The final letter grade in the first semester of…

Reports a follow-up survey of 1,565 high school physics students in Oregon to determine whether and why they had taken physics in college. Results indicated that roughly half of the 590 students responding went on to study physics and that students from schools offering multiple physics courses had higher rates of continuation. (MDH)

Designed to examine the factors that contribute to student achievement, this study focused specifically on the relationship between physics achievement and selected teacher characteristics, student characteristics, and school and district characteristics. Questionnaires and attitude surveys were completed by 39 randomly selected Mississippi…

This paper is based on the idea that designing a knowledge representation for an intelligent physics computer tutoring system depends, in part, on the target behavior anticipated from the student. In addition, the document distinguishes between qualitative and quantitative competence in physics. These competencies are illustrated through questions…

Describes the English Educational System, and contrasts the way physics is taught in the U.S. system on the following points: maturity, graduation requirements, laboratory work, student motivation, availability to students, and passage to higher education. (MDH)

Reports results of the Second International Science Study concerning achievement in physics of U.S. high school students. Makes comparisons between students of 13 other countries and U.S. students, between first- and second-year U.S. physics students, and between U.S. students tested in the mid-1980s and those tested in 1970. (MDH)

Reports results of an ethnographic study to determine what physics students consider important in their transition from high school to college. Themes emerging from the interviews that suggest ways to ease transition include when transition begins, self-identity, student and teacher work, teachers, and student responsibility. (MDH)

The quality of doctoral-level chemistry (N=145), computer science (N=58), geoscience (N=91), mathematics (N=115), physics (N=123), and statistics/biostatistics (N=64) programs at United States universities was assessed, using 16 measures. These measures focused on variables related to: program size; characteristics of graduates; reputational…