Achievement goal theory distinguishes between mastery goals (the goals of developing competence) and performance goals (the goals of demonstrating competence) [Ames [1992] "Journal of Educational Psychology" 84: 261-271]. In this study, we employed this theory aiming to better understand why adolescents' motivation to learn science…

Students in classes using a self-instructional unit on meteorology and climatology which provided research data from which generalizations could be drawn increased their critical thinking skills more than groups using conventional earth science texts but did not differ significantly in performance on an achievement test. (AL)

Study examined the influence of the incorporation of set induction into teacher's instructional strategy upon pupil achievement, retention, and assessment of effective teaching. Eighteen pre-service teachers were used with half receiving instruction on set induction. Results indicated set induction is an important variable in teacher effectiveness…

In each of three studies, students using computer assisted instruction for supplemental drill and practice in a first organic chemistry course performed consistently higher than control students on sections of the course examinations related to the content of the programs. (AL)

There were no differences in the understanding of physical optics and ability to solve physical optics problems after instruction or on a delayed test between students with or without prior instruction in wave motion. (AL)

Documents the benefits of teaching chemistry through history. The experimental group consisted of seniors enrolled in a teacher preparation program in which they learned how to teach chemistry through the history of science. The results of the analysis of covariance revealed that the experimental group outperformed the control group on an…

Examples of scoring protocols, reliability data, and the relationship between components of a laboratory examination are reported. Differences between BSCS and non-BSCS biology students are examined. (AL)

Different learner characteristics are related to success in audio-tutorial and traditional" courses when step-wise multiple regression analysis is used. (AL)

Investigated was the adequacy of a teaching-learning model for improving the level of achievement and attitudes of culturally deprived children in heterogeneous classes, while offering adequate learning opportunity to those who were not deprived. A seventh grade biology course on aquatic zoo ecology was developed for this model. (Author/HM)

Students (233) in five Israeli high schools were tested to determine the relationship of IQ and achievement, attitudes, and manipulative and observational skills in chemistry. Students indicating a desire to pursue science study were found to differ signicantly their non-science oriented couterparts only on cognitive ability measures. (CP)

Advocates the analysis of student characteristics in determining the outcomes of instruction and the analysis of instruction to determine effects on student characteristics. (CP)