The purpose of this dissertation was to investigate self-efficacy as a potential mediator in the relationship between the amount of time students spent during high school participating in the arts and their current science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) motivation levels. The study participants (N = 68) were between the ages of…

Community schools represent a school reform approach that purports to address the multifaceted and intertwined challenges faced by poor urban communities and schools. The community school approach includes partnering with community organizations, making the school a community hub where services are provided during and outside of the school day,…

In 2007, the Virginia Board of Education directed the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) to study academic indicators that are associated with high school students' successful preparation for college and careers. VDOE then embarked on a multi-year effort to identify available data sources and conduct research on high school indicators that…

Described is an activity designed to make the concepts of experimentation, independent variables, and dependent variables easy to understand by using observable characteristics of several rods to illustrate these concepts. (DS)

Investigated variables related to 661 adolescent girls' participation in physical activity. Results showed socializing agents and socialization situations appeared to be more influential than personal attributes, although movement satisfaction and self-confidence were important for competitive sports. Amount of equipment available was a crucial…

This study of 91 young adults, who had been identified as intellectually gifted as adolescents, found that out-of-school activities in adolescence were significant predictors of later vocational choice. Subjects whose adolescent out-of-school activities matched their adult occupations had a higher level of work accomplishment than other subjects.…

The purpose of the research was to ascertain the effectiveness of academic aptitude measures, measures of school motivation, and life history factors as predictors of the accomplishments of high school seniors, attained outside their formal programs of study, measured by responses to the Talented Accomplishments Questionnaire. (Author)

Describes a project in which fingerprint patterns were identified and analyzed to determine whether any positive relationship existed between pattern type and academic ability. (LS)

The SVIB was administered to the entire freshperson class at a midwestern college for women. Results showed leaders responded "like" to about 90 percent of the scale items, whereas nonleaders responded "like" to only about 10 percent. The scale is designed to assist counselors in aiding women to plan their extracurricular…

The relationship between various aspects of student self-concept and student participation in the extra-and cocurricular activity programs of several high schools was explored. Known and hypothesized indicants of participation were explored. Results indicated that self-concept variables and personal variables were differential in the nature of…

Compared some characteristics of Black female high school dropouts with a group of graduates previously perceived as potential dropouts. Results indicated that students' age, employment status, involvement in church, and involvement in activities outside of school are related to Black female persistence in high school. (RC)

Determined if selected personal and academic variables were predictive of self-concept scores. Both academic and personal variables made a significant, unique contribution to prediction of self-concept scores. Grade point average, extracurricular activities, health, and home life individually made a unique contribution to the prediction of…

Two studies of gifted high school dropouts (n=3,854) found many dropouts were from low socioeconomic-status families and racial minority groups, had parents with low levels of education, and participated less in extracurricular activities. Dropout behavior was related to student's educational aspiration, pregnancy or child-rearing, gender, and…

Examined predictors of nonmarital motherhood between eighth and twelfth grade in nationally representative sample. Found that risk for early motherhood was predicted by low individual educational performance measures, being held back in school, and repeatedly changing schools. Lower risk was associated with substantial involvement in school clubs…

Assessing the self-esteem of students may be one way to evaluate the effectiveness of educational programs. To study the impact of an art-based program, middle and high school students completed the Self Esteem Inventory as well as intelligence and achievement measures. Results showed that self-esteem mean scores (both pre and post) were well…