For many years, teacher education has focused on the centrality of the learner in the educational process. This study examined how preservice teachers' beliefs regarding children changed over the course of a teacher education program. It also examined the role of personality indicators in that change. Preservice social studies teachers were…

This exploratory study presents a different approach to studying transition by involving students as researchers. The aim was to investigate how students talked about their experiences of transition in university. Nineteen first and second year undergraduate psychology students participated in focus groups and semi-structured interviews, conducted…

Urban high-school students' low average level of academic achievement is a national problem. A lack of academic progress is a factor that contributes to students failing to graduate. In response to these urban high school student problems, a growing number of urban charter high schools have opened as an alternative to the traditional public high…

Females entering as freshman at the University of Iowa were tested during orientation and again as seniors. Results indicate a decrease in dogmatism, increase in interpersonal competence, and in increase in selectivity regarding preferred occupations. (CJ)

A study by Burstein in 1980 at the University of Texas Health Science Center found evidence that significant hedonistic personality changes occur between the freshman and the junior year of medical school. A study to answer questions of the generalizability of Burstein's study is described. (MLW)

Summarizes the story of Don Henry, a student at the University of Kansas in the 1930s, focusing on how he became a communist after he left home and later went to fight in the the Spanish Civil War. Provides a teaching activity on the role of universities in influencing students and their beliefs. (CMK)

The purpose of the present study was to determine, through a longitudinal study of persons differing in amount of higher education over a 2-year and a 4-year period, whether or not there are changes in personality characteristics associated with college education. Thus, the study was made of over 2,000 persons, part of whom attended college or…

Findings are interpreted in the framework of adolescent egocentrism and discussed both in terms of their implications for the study of adolescent socialization and the study of perceived age changes. (Authors)

The effect that four years of college has on student personality test scores was examined at Shippensburg State College. The personality measure administered in all three Centennial Class testings was the "Runner Studies of Attitude Patterns". The 14 Runner variables are categorized as control-oriented, freedom-oriented,…

Evidence from various psychological, sociological, and informal group studies is examined to determine psychological, emotional, and moral effects of legal training. Results show no proof that claimed personality changes exist and (if they do) that they are a result of stress. Conclusions suggest no changes in legal education. (JT)

The belief that sororities have a differential effect on the attitudes and values of their members was not supported by this study. The results indicate that attitudinal and personality changes over a four year period were similar for the sorority girls and independents. (Author)

The Character Education Program which was implemented in 52 elementary schools in 1979-80 in the Dade County public school system is evaluated. Objectives of the evaluation were: (1) to determine how much the character-building materials were used and how the teachers valued the materials; (2) to determine attitudes of students toward the use and…

The durability of positive personal changes observed in 47 women's studies students 9 months after the last week of class was studied. Positive effects, including changes in interactions and the willingness to adopt new roles and behaviors, lasted through the follow-up, suggesting the usefulness of womens' studies for personal change. (SLD)

Reports that instead of becoming progressively less sexist with each year in college, students' sex role attitudes tend to reflect changes in local public opinion. Those initially the most sexist demonstrated the greatest degree of attitude change over a three-year period. (Author/ST)