Discusses two alternative metrics to detect computer software plagiarism: the Halstead metric drawn from the software science discipline and an ad hoc method drawn from program grading experience and identified by factor analysis. Possible explanations as to why the ad hoc method is more useful in identical-task environments are considered.…

Group of 20 scholars attributed 29.3 percent of 437 references they had cited to one of seven motives, while describing motives for majority (70.7 percent) of references as combinations. Clustering of citer motives showed three groupings: (1) persuasiveness, positive credit, currency, social consensus; (2) negative credit; (3) reader alert,…

A survey of computer scientists was conducted to identify factors that affect software complexity. A total of 160 items were selected from the literature to include in a questionnaire sent to 425 individuals who were employees of computer-related businesses in Lawrence and Kansas City. The items were grouped into nine categories called system…

A study was undertaken at Loma Linda University to identify the psychological needs that motivate undergraduate students to seek nonrequired information, the sources they use, and any relationship between the needs and sources. A significant relationship was found between the motivating needs and the categories of sources used. (CDD)

Investigated attributes of 61 online searchers that were believed to affect quality of search results: creativity level (measured using two self-report inventories); intelligence level (approximated from GRE verbal and quantitative scores); and personality traits in regard to masculinity, femininity, and self-esteem (measured using…

Discusses relation between verbal ability and metamemory and how these two factors relate to the later recallability of material. A study is described that separated 32 children into high and average verbal ability groups, administered a metamemorial questionnaire, and tested recall one week later. (Author/LRW)

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationships between graduate education in educational psychology and instructional design programs in view of the common interest of the two disciplines in certain content areas. Program administrators (chairpersons) of instructional design and technology programs at 22 institutions with doctoral…

This study of U.S. college students' soap opera viewing habits investigated their motives; interrelationships among motives, audience viewing dispositions, and life patterns; whether viewing dispositions and life pattern variables explain viewing motives; and what multivariate structures explain relationships between viewing motives, viewing…

A modified version of the Approaches to Studying Inventory was administered to students in an innovative medical school. It was found that, although the inventory was not predictive of academic success for this group, it might be helpful in student counseling, and student responses were consistent with the school's philosophy. (LRW)

The Dissemination Efforts Supporting School Improvement (DESSI) study examined the adoption or development and implementation in 146 schools in 10 states of 61 practices that were part of 4 federal or state programs. Local schools in the study sample were asked to identify those individuals (facilitators) who had helped them with a particular new…

Describes pre/posttest study that measured the change in knowledge of and attitudes toward microcomputers among 30 high school teachers participating in an inservice computer literacy course in Pennsylvania. The Minnesota Computer Literacy and Awareness Assessment was used, and results showed significant improvement in both areas. (Author/LRW)

This study examined the effects of a year-long word processing program on learners' holistic writing skills. Based on results of a writing pretest, 80 seventh grade students were designated as relatively high or low in prior writing achievement and assigned to one of two groups: a word processing treatment and a conventional writing process…

In an attempt to correlate effective school practices with actual observed student achievement, a survey instrument concerning principal leadership and school climate was distributed to classroom teachers in the Oklahoma City Public Schools. Responses by more than half of the teachers yielded 1,294 usable questionnaires representing all 94 schools…