The purpose of this paper is to examine the theories and research concerning social comparison and goal setting processes in education and to discuss implications for educational practice and future research. Social comparison and goal setting are important contextual influences on children's task motivation, self-evaluations of capability, and…

A number of recent studies have yielded data on the factors affecting the science achievement of disadvantaged students. For example, it was found that students' socioeconomic status (SES) increased as a predictor of their science achievement as the students moved through school. Furthermore, the effect of being Black (or, to a lesser degree,…

Because mathematics and gender(sex) is a research area of increasing international interest, a worldwide survey about research concerned with special problems of girls and women when learning mathematics was conducted. Reports included in this document were submitted from Australia, Canada, Dominican Republic, England and Wales, India, Ireland,…