Discusses the allocative and selective procedures of a multiracial British comprehensive school. Argues that future studies should consider which students attend which schools and take which courses. Addresses student placement based on English, mathematics, and social studies test results. Concludes that the term "underachiever" is a…

This research project was inspired by an observation that in written descriptions of pupils by student teachers, gender appeared to play a role in the words used to describe successful students. Girls were interpreted as "overconscientious," while boys were regarded as "scientific types." The project centered on Anna, an…

STUDENTS WHO APPROACHED COLLEGE WITH DIFFERENT EDUCATIONAL GOALS WERE COMPARED ON THEIR AVERAGE ABILITY, GRADES, NONACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENTS, REASONS FOR COLLEGE CHOICE, BACKGROUND, EXPECTATIONS CONCERNING COLLEGE, DEGREE PLANS, AND CHOICE OF MAJOR, VOCATION, AND VOCATION ROLE BY THE AMERICAN COLLEGE TESTING PROGRAM (ACT). THE SUBJECTS WERE A…

THE PROBLEM OF THIS RESEARCH WAS TO DEVELOP AND VALIDATE A K SCALE FOR A MOTIVATIONAL TEST BATTERY. APPROXIMATELY 4,200 11TH GRADE, MICHIGAN PUBLIC HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS COMPRISED THE STUDY. PROTOCOLS OF ABOUT 300 IDENTIFIED OVER- AND UNDERACHIEVERS WERE USED. AN ANALYSIS WAS CONSTRUCTED TO IDENTIFY ITEMS ON WHICH UNDERACHIEVERS SCORE AS…

Methodologies were proposed for combining background and aptitude and/or achievement information in an approach to the classification problem using the concept of under- and overachievement. The methodologies were applied to independent samples from four high school curricula. The results suggest that when past achievement and/or aptitudes were…

In 1982-83, a study was undertaken at the City Colleges of Chicago (CCC) to ascertain the attributes and learning processes of high-achieving students of relatively low aptitude so that these attributes and processes might be taught to other students to improve their achievement. Interviews were conducted with 26 CCC students who belonged to or…

SCORES FROM 16 VARIABLES WERE USED TO ASSESS DIFFERENCES AMONG 194 JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL BOYS AND GIRLS OF 4 TEXAS COMMUNITIES WHO WERE AMONG MORE THAN 1,500 PUPILS INCLUDED IN THE "TEXAS HUMAN TALENT PROJECT." SUBJECTS WERE CLASSIFIED INTO "UP,""DOWN," OR "STABLE" SAMPLES. CLASSIFICATION INTO THE…

Through anecdotes, a female outdoor educator highlights the importance of role-modeling gender equality, but also suggests a need to explore the cultural assumptions behind sexual roles; what is served by them; and the social mechanisms that reinforce them, such as homophobia. Educational strategies to help women gain and claim competence in the…

Elementary school teachers were trained in specific classroom behaviors designed to improve student achievement. Effects of the training were measured primarily in terms of academic outcomes for underachievers; outcomes for normal and overachieving students were also examined. In addition to a focus upon achievement, the study was also designed to…

AN EXPERIMENTAL, COLLEGE-LEVEL, ELEMENTARY FRENCH COURSE WAS ORGANIZED, IMPLEMENTED, AND EVALUATED. THE COURSE WAS APPROXIMATELY EQUIVALENT TO TWO ELEMENTARY AND TWO INTERMEDIATE SEQUENCES IN THE CONVENTIONAL PATTERN, ALLOWING 15 CREDIT HOURS FOR AN AVERAGE WORKING PERIOD OF THREE ACADEMIC SEMESTERS. THE EMPHASIS OF THE COURSE WAS ON INTENSIVE…

AN EXPERIMENTAL ELEMENTARY FRENCH COURSE WAS ESTABLISHED AT THE UNIVERSITY LEVEL AND EVALUATED ON ITS PEDAGOGICAL EFFICIENCY, ADMINISTRATIVE FEASIBILITY, AND ACHIEVEMENT-MOTIVATIONAL CAPABILITY. THE COURSE FEATURED INTENSIVE CONTACT WITH LINGUISTICS, SELF-INSTRUCTION, AND SELF-PACING. (FOR DETAILS ON THE COURSE ORGANIZATION, SEE ED 010 465, A…

A study investigated the academic achievement of 390 students in a freshman seminar designed to enhance academic success of three risk groups (underachievers, overachievers, and low achievers). The populations responded to seminar content in distinct ways. Comparison with a control group showed the only gain was in retention of low achievers.…

ACHIEVEMENT MOTIVATION WAS STUDIED BETWEEN OVER- AND UNDER-ACHIEVING STUDENTS IN THE ELEVENTH-GRADE TO DEVELOP AN OBJECTIVE MEASURE OF MOTIVATION FOR USE IN PREDICTING ACADEMIC SUCCESS OR FAILURE. APPROXIMATELY 800 STUDENTS IN PUBLIC HIGH SCHOOLS WERE SELECTED FOR VALIDATION AND CROSS-VALIDATION SAMPLES. THEY WERE DIVIDED BY SEX AND ACHIEVEMENT.…

Highlights a National Assessment of Educational Progress study indicating that in the 1970s academic gains in reading by some low achievers was offset by declines in science and math skills of high achievers. Additional results related to reading, science, and mathematics are also highlighted and discussed. (JN)

DIFFERENCES IN ATTITUDES BETWEEN ADVANTAGED AND DISADVANTAGED STUDENTS, AND DIFFERENCES IN ATTITUDES BETWEEN INCONSISTENT STUDENTS AND THEIR ASSOCIATED MAJORITY GROUPS WERE EXPLORED. FOR THE PURPOSE OF THIS STUDY, THE INCONSISTENT STUDENT WAS DEFINED AS EITHER A STUDENT FROM AN ADVANTAGED BACKGROUND WHO WAS UNSUCCESSFUL IN SCHOOL, OR A STUDENT…