To test the validity of the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-Revised (WISC-R) for minority groups, factorial similarity across race was investigated with separate principal-factor analyses for White and Black children from the nationally representative WISC-R standardization sample. On every measure, the White and Black groups were highly…

The connection between attitudes toward higher education and course evaluation follows from theories of central directive states and communicative balance. Course evaluation is related to: (1) students' and instructors' own and perceived attitudes toward higher education and college teaching, and (2) congruence between these attitudes. (Author/CP)

Studied age trends in solving correlational problems involving over 2 continuous variables 100 Canadian students in grades 5, 7, 9, and 11 and a postgraduate college preparatory year; 278 seventh graders; and 120 tenth graders in 3 experiments. Correlational reasoning skills increased with age and improved through instruction. (SLD)

This study investigated how classroom teaching behavior mediates the relationship between personality and college teaching effectiveness. Instructional effectiveness was measured by end-of-term student ratings. Path analysis revealed that approximately half of the relationship between personality and teaching effectiveness was mediated by…

This longitudinal analysis of children's achievement and self-perceptions of mathematics ability across grades 2, 5, and 10 used LISREL structural modeling to estimate reciprocal relationships between constructs measured by computational and problem-solving tests and self-rating scales. Findings included developmental differences in the causal…

The generalizability and validity of student ratings were examined by studying within-class and between-classes correlations of ratings with other variables for regular faculty and their teaching assistants. Most ratings are generalizable, but only some are related to learning. Certain aspects vary with instructor's role and the level of data.…

Different methods of measuring print experience were studied for 63 fifth graders who completed daily activity diaries. Book reading time estimate was correlated with new measures of reading time that use a checklist. Results support recognition checklist measures as convenient proxy indicators of children's print exposure. (SLD)

How self-serving bias affects evaluations of college courses was tested for 691 students by comparing a model predicting that evaluations reflect actual grades with a model predicting that evaluations reflect confirmation or disconfirmation of expectations. Results support course evaluation validity by indicating a minimal effect of self-serving…

Student ratings of instruction for lecture types varying in substantive teaching points covered (high, medium, low) and expressiveness of delivery (high, low) were investigated. Half were offered an incentive to learn before the lecture; the other half after the lecture. Students then rated lecture effectiveness and completed an achievement test.…

The first study investigates the validity of the Preschool Language Assessment Instrument as a diagnostic tool for differenciating the ability of language impaired preschoolers to use language to communicate complex ideas. The second study evaluates the relative effectiveness of two software environments that were expected to enhance children's…

The relationships among scores on traditional college entrance tests and scores on an essay placement test for women and men and four ethnic groups were examined. The tests correlated highly with essay performance. However, women tended to be underestimated and men and ethnic minorities overestimated by these measures. (Author/PN)

The development and validation of three instruments for the multidimensional assessment of a child's classroom behavior are described. The multidimensional nature, internal consistency, and test-retest properties of scales depicting teacher-, peer-, and self-rated behavior are explicated. Principal-components analyses demonstrate the convergent…

Using student interviews, teacher ratings, and achievement test outcomes, a strategy model of student self-regulated learning was validated as a theoretical construct. Results with 44 male and 36 female 10th graders indicate both convergent and discriminative validity for a self-regulated learning construct. (TJH)

This study tested the multifaceted, hierarchical structure of self- concept (SC) against alternative models and determined whether academic SC can be discriminated from academic grades. Results supported the multidimensional interpretation of SC and demonstrated that general SC could be interpreted as distinct from but correlated with academic SC.…

Multiple regression analysis indicated a significant relationship between course entry attitudes and end-of-course ratings for students reporting precourse expectations prior to entry into the course. Different sets of items from the Course Entry Scale were found to predict end-of-course ratings for different groups of students studied. (Author/PN)