A study extended the investigation of readers' imaginative processes (spontaneous imagery and emotional response) to a new genre of texts: newspaper articles. A sample of 25 articles was randomly selected from a well-defined population of naturally occurring texts (articles with one or more subheadings and three to five paragraphs before the first…

The study investigated statistically significant correlations between levels of test anxiety and socioeconomic status among college sophomores and juniors. The Anxiety Scale (Alpert and Haber) was administered to students in an educational psychology course. Administrations were conducted at a neutral time, 45 days prior to the final exam, and…

This study was undertaken to examine the relationship between self-reported and pre-post measures of academic growth. Self-reported and pre-post measures were obtained in three areas, simple cognitive, complex cognitive and attitudinal. The subjects were 162 graduate students enrolled in six different graduate courses. Partial correlations…

The application and use of hierarchical models is illustrated, using the example of the structure of attitudes toward a new product and a print advertisement. Subjects were college students who responded to seven-point bipolar scales. Hierarchical models were better than nonhierarchical models in conceptualizing attitude but not intention. (GDC)

Reports research into the affective responses of 75 University of Iowa undergraduate students to situations varying in achievement outcome, task importance, and effort. Analysis of variance indicates that the affective component score is dependent mainly on the student's perceptions of his/her academic success or failure. (EAO)

Four issues concerning aspects of the validity of the Attitude/Motivation Test Battery are examined: (1) whether the subtests assess the attributes claimed; (2) the relationship of the subtests to higher order constructs; (3) whether the strategy for measuring affective variables influences correlations with achievement measures; and (4)…

This study was designed to explore the concurrent validity of the Spiritual Well-being Scale (SWB). Ninety first-year student volunteers at an evangelical seminary served as subjects. As part of a larger study, the students completed the SWB and the Interpersonal Behavior Survey (IBS). The SWB Scale is a 20-item self-report scale. Ten items…

The degree to which statistical item selection reduces direction-of-wording effects in balanced affective measures developed from relatively small item pools was investigated with 171 male and 228 female undergraduate and graduate students at 2 U.S. universities. Clearest direction-of-wording effects result from selection of items with high…

Academic self-concept has been viewed by numerous investigators as an important facet of general self-concept. The Academic Self-Concept Scale (ASCS) was developed as a measure of academic self-concept in college students. The initial item pool consisted of 59 items worded to conform to a four-pont Likert-type response format. On the basis of…

The relationship between anxiety and learning was examined within the context of drive theory and trait-state anxiety theory. Results indicated that trait anxiety had a causal influence on state anxiety and on test performance. The possibility of a reciprocal relationship between state anxiety and performance was suggested. (Author/BH)

Scales measuring people's perceptions of themselves as origins (determining their own behavior) or pawns (their behavior being determined by forces beyond their control) were devised using content analysis of verbalizations. Data were obtained from 528 people, experiencing one of nine life situations. Pawn and origin perception differed across…

The reliability, validity, and dimensionality of the revised UCLA Loneliness Scale (ULS) were studied with a group of 199 California college students. Other personality tests were administered to measure social anxiety, alienation, health locus of control, drinking-related locus of control, life satisfaction, and personal values. Sociodemographic…

Mathematics anxiety and its relationship to other constructs was studied in 138 preservice elementary and special education teachers. The students, primarily women, were enrolled in a variety of professional courses and field experiences. Five instruments were administered, their factor structures were determined, and intercorrelations among the…