This exploratory study aimed to investigate the implicit (personal theories) of student teachers through consideration of their beliefs about the nature of ability (intelligence). By drawing on ideas of personhood and identity to investigate constructions of intelligence, the authors also hoped to begin to explore the legitimacy of a multifaceted…

This paper reports the findings on motivational factors influencing teaching as a career choice from a qualitative study carried out in Scotland. Ten students undertaking a PGDE (Professional Graduate Diploma in Education) programme at one Scottish university were interviewed. The results indicate that the choice of a teaching career derived from…

This paper considers some possible pitfalls in recent legislation in Scotland that has enhanced agency rights for older children with additional support needs (ASN). It does so with particular reference to philosophical literature on children's rights. Though the UNCRC increasingly animates education law, policy and practice in Scotland and…

Speakers possess a natural capacity for lip reading; analogous to this, there may be an intuitive ability to "tongue-read." Although the ability of untrained participants to perceive aspects of the speech signal has been explored for some visual representations of the vocal tract (e.g. talking heads), it is not yet known to what extent…

The Capabilities Approach places dignity at its core, emphasising people as ends not means who should be enabled to achieve the plans and goals they have reason to value. Focussed on the entitlement of all people to flourish and to be treated with equal respect, we argue here that this approach lends itself to a consideration of ethical issues…

An exploration of the significance of ability beliefs in four case study schools in contrasting systems (independent and state comprehensives) provides a foundation for this paper. Through four delimited case studies using observations, semi-structured interviews, telephone interviews and multiple perspectives, rich data emerged. Subsequently,…

It is accepted that formative assessment can lead to gains in attainment. Although claims have also been made that these techniques bring benefits in terms of self-esteem and motivation, the evidence here is limited. This article reports an exploratory study which focused on formative assessment techniques and primary children's views of…

Examines children's use of spelling as a guide to pronunciation and their ability to handle stress assignment rules. Subjects were 64 seven-year-old elementary school students in Scotland. (MP)

The interrelationship between personality and intelligence was investigated in several studies using data from a survey of 210 Scottish farmers. Evidence was found for increased differentiation of neuroticism and openness at higher levels of ability. There was no support for the hypothesis that intelligence affects the correlation between…

Research supported by the Scottish Council for Research in Education.

Survey data on perceptions of the ability and economic circumstances of their students of 304 teachers in 45 schools in Scotland are used to illustrate multilevel multivariate linear regression. Teachers in a school tended to share beliefs about the students, and these beliefs linked economic disadvantage and low ability. (SLD)