We explore possibilities for placing community college students in math using non-cognitive measures, such as indicators of motivation or students' educational plans. First, we use supplemental administrative data gathered during routine placement testing in a large urban community college district in California to conduct predictive exercises…

This examination of data selection preceding multivariate analysis compares results grained with "gentle" and "draconian" variable elimination. To acquire comparable results, two stages of statistical exploration into an integrated model of motivation, learning strategies, and quality of teaching were used. The goal of the…

Anxiety has been shown to have detrimental effects on students in the classroom. This study examined the relations between motivational variables and anxiety. In particular, this study utilized goal orientation theory to examine whether the personal goals a student adopts and the goal structures a student perceives in the classroom are predictors…

This study looked at patterns of relationship among motivational and effort variables for different classroom assessments, considering the assignments interest and importance, students self-efficacy for accomplishing the tasks, and the goal orientations and learning strategy use behind their efforts. A multiple case study design looked at the…

This paper discusses the validity of test preparation practices in the context of large-scale norm-referenced and criterion-referenced tests. It presents a framework for conceptualizing the various aspects of test preparation that includes the basic premises underlying the validity of the practices. Five areas of test preparation are outlined: (1)…

There is substantial evidence that the disposition of test takers is central to performance. This research extends previous work by replicating the experimental design of L. Wolf and J. Smith (1995) and conducting a secondary analysis of their data to attempt to demonstrate differential effect sizes for examinees reporting varying motivation…

This paper reports on a survey of approximately one-third of Jamaican teachers in training. The study factor analyzed the motivations these trainees gave for choosing the teaching profession. Results are compared with those of the last major survey 10 years earlier. To determine some possible reasons, 130 students were interviewed by staff members…

The relationships between middle school students' multiple motivational goal orientations and their use of multiple cognitive and metacognitive strategies were studied with a focus on relations between these motivational and cognitive variables and students' academic achievement in two curriculum areas. Participants were 602 middle school students…

The purpose of this study was to investigate the factor structure of a Factors Influencing Pursuit of Higher Education (FIPHE) Questionnaire which addresses factors influencing a person's decision to pursue higher education. Researchers used a literature-based, rational factors approach to develop the questionnaire; the three-part study included a…