Science education research, as well as science curriculum development, has concentrated on the intelligent student, to the unjustifiable neglect of average and below-average ability students. (AL)

Describes an empirical method of developing learning hierarchies by comparing success on each tested behavior with all other behaviors. Advantages, compared with validation of a particular logical hierarchy, are illustrated by application of density principles to prediction of flotation. (AL)

Criticizes Gene Glass' recommendations on the use of creative geniuses'' to mediate'' basic knowledge from allied sciences and to create curriculum materials. (CC)

Physical science curriculum materials were developed for below-average students based on guidelines for science teaching. These materials were tested in three ninth and tenth grade classrooms. Results showed significant improvement in students' attitudes toward the science class and laboratory. (PS)

Evaluates five methods of implementing curriculum change in terms of cost, usage rates, satisfaction, and the Havelock model of knowledge, dissemination, and utilization. (SL)

Reports the teaching behaviors of instructors who (1) willfully and (2) under mandate adopted a new earth science syllabus. After a four year time span had elapsed, both groups exhibited similar behaviors. (CP)

Summarizes major findings of the Harvard Project Physics research and evaluation activity, including data gathering techniques, descriptions of teacher characteristics, information about student responses and learning environments, and final evaluation year results. Indicates that the evaluation program is characterized by considerable research on…

The research reported in this article focuses on teachers' views of participating in curriculum development at the local level. A questionnaire returned by the randomly selected teachers provided data on the types of help desired by teachers involved in curriculum development, sources of help, and curriculum development activities. (SA)

Investigated were 27 elementary teachers to determine how the factors of dogmatism, attitude towards science, and congruence with new curriculum influence the adoption of new science programs. Teacher congruence with new science courses and attitudes toward science both correlated negatively with dogmatism. (SL)

Investigates the opinions of 991 Israeli junior high school students with regard to their choices and preferences of science subjects. Findings show that preferred subjects were chosen both from school curricula and from having agents outside the school. (HM)

This report synthesizes critical issues and questions associated with science curriculum reform for the purpose of establishing a research agenda. Section headings describing needed research are as follows: Science, Technology, and Cultural Needs; Schooling Needs; Science Education Needs; and Research in Science Education Needs. Contrasts and…

This article covers the following: (1) contrasts several perspectives on science education reform by examining recommendations for introductory science courses; (2) identifies research finding that can guide reform; (3) discusses the impact of research on national precollege curriculum reform; and (4) offers a set of recommendations to guide…

Investigates whether information about new National Science Foundation sponsored elementary science curricula was not being effectively communicated to the appropriate persons, thus hindering the selection and adoption of those curricula. (GA)

Normal adolescents, retarded adolescents, and high ability second-graders were compared on their abilities to master high and low structure science materials. An increase of structure was found to be related to recall for all groups, but to be of particular importance for the retarded adolescents. (CP)