This paper reflects upon a career of 40 years involving teaching and research into the causes and solutions for school absenteeism and truancy. It includes insights into both professional and empirical work and notes how the subject has become increasingly "politicised" over the last 25-30 years by governments of both persuasions: Left and Right.…

Refutes R. Douglas Greer's contentions that behavior analysis is the best avenue for improving teaching and learning effectiveness. Maintains that, despite its success in the laboratory, behaviorism has limited application to the study of instruction in today's schools. (Author/MJL)

The methodological aspects of the behavior analysis movement are often overlooked in favor of focusing on the powerful effects of rewards and punsihments used systematically in a behavior-modification paradigm. The methodological aspects are important for the topic of research on teaching because they create a situation where the teacher acts both…

The research findings of most studies on student behavior problems have shown that these behaviors can be reduced to four major clusters of interrelated characteristics--conduct disorder, personality disorder, inadequacy-immaturity and socialized delinquency. Discusses these behaviors and some research on behavior change. (Author/RK)

Two studies of 6-7 year old children (one 12 subjects, one 36 subjects) were conducted to describe and relate the function of behaviors. Significant findings include a negative correlation between solo activities and teacher assessed ranking and a positive correlation between associative behavior and educational attainment. (SL)

Investigated was the relationship between language ability and aggression among 75 five-year old children. A significant negative correlation is postulated from observation of the subjects. (SL)

Reports a study in which 38 significant correlations were found between teacher characteristics and children's classroom behavior. (TO)

This paper describes research activities of the Positive Teaching Project, focusing on the nature of classroom behavior problems viewed by teachers as particularly troublesome, teachers' typical responses to classroom behavior, classroom behavior management strategies based on manipulation of antecedents and natural consequences, and training…

Two hundred males and 212 females in grades three through eight were tested for conformity to peers using Asch-type stimuli and a modified Crutchfield procedure. The results showed that, with difficulty level controlled, conformity decreased with age between eight and eleven years and then increased to age thirteen. Discrepancies among earlier…

The labeling theory of deviance is used as a basis from which to comment on the dynamics of the labeling process in schools in general. Several research studies have demonstrated the self-fulfilling prophecy of labeling techniques. Four types of behavior can be distinguished: behavior that breaks a rule and is labeled as deviant; behavior that…

A study was conducted to ascertain which dimensions of children's classroom behavior are seen to be important by teachers and how accurate teachers' perceptions are of children's behavior in terms of such dimensions. Teachers in six suburban fourth-grade classrooms rated classroom behavior of each of their students (105 boys and 78 girls) using…

An attempt to record what pupils think and feel during the instructional process is the basis of this investigation of pupils' goal-related behavior. Two experiments are described that analyze what fourth grade pupils can tell about their activities during the instructional period when they are aided by an immediate videotape replay. These…

This report describes initial steps taken in a research project aimed at gaining insight into the nature of effective foreign language teaching. Two systems for observing and describing classroom behavior of teachers and students were developed in this experiment. These systems were used to observe university-level French classes. Data collected…

Videotaped group work lessons of an elementary school third grade class provide material for study of the non-verbal aspect of group behavior. A system of activity categories is developed and a typology of pupils' working methods in group study distinguishes types and characteristic forms of activity. The following activity categories are used in…

Surveyed 1,148 Chinese junior, prevocational, secondary school students to investigate self-concepts and delinquent behaviors when compared to grammar secondary school counterparts. Examined data from an earlier study of junior grammar school students. Finds earlier group had higher self-esteem whereas the prevocational students were more likely…