Presents data showing that women in an introductory statistics class make higher grades than men. Compares this finding with previously reported results and provides anecdotal observations concerning this experience. (JDH)

This article explores reasons for differences between Brooks' findings and the author's. Additional analysis of the data revealed no significant gender difference. Concludes there is a need for better controlled studies. (JDH)

Describes an undergraduate course in psychology that addresses concepts relating to women's mental health. Explains that the course emphasizes the impact of social variables on mental health issues for women. Includes a list of topics and student activities for the course. Presents student reactions and assessment. (DK)

Examines citation patterns in introductory psychology textbooks of the recipients of the American Psychology Association's Awards for Distinguished Scientific Contribution. Compared recipient citations by time period and by gender. Determines that earlier recipients were cited more often in textbooks published in 1971, but in recent textbooks, no…

Study showed that undergraduate psychology students retain a humanistic orientation, but become more abstract in their thinking about psychology as they advance. Students are sensitive to the difference between psychology as a discipline and as a profession. Teaching styles affect student attitudes. Sex differences were found for values and…

Graduate students in psychology were effective at reducing undergraduate student anxiety through progressive relaxation training (PRT). Trainer sex did not differentially influence PRT effectiveness. (RM)

Responds to the article "Students Do Not Overestimate their Life Expectancy: An Alternative Demonstration of Unique Invulnerability" suggesting that students will show optimistic biasing in regard to self-referential information. Discusses a class exercise that focuses on the age of death and is used to see if optimistic biasing occurs.…

Reports a study to determine if students perform better on test items containing references to their own sex than on neutral items or items containing references to the other sex. Results indicate a significant effect when a disproportionate number of items referring to one sex are cumulated over several tests. (Author/KC)

Investigates whether undergraduate psychology students will give optimistic estimates of their life expectancy if they receive either no information or correct information about the average life expectancy. Reveals that both men and women in each of the two conditions estimated their life span at approximately their actuarial age. (CMK)

Because of a belief that the alternatives they had chosen initially were probably correct, most subjects were reluctant to change answers, and, consequently, did so only when they were highly confident in the change. Results were that more than half the changes were correct. (RM)

Reports on a study of 301 new psychology majors to test and extend a generic model for academic pathways to the undergraduate major and investigate feminization of the field. Finds that a student's contact with basic college psychology courses is a major factor leading to a decision about an undergraduate major. (CFR)

Reviews a Web-based psychology research project where students searched preselected Web sites for data on the ages of advertisers and mates sought in personal advertisements in order to determine the mate selection preferences of heterosexual and homosexual men and women. Addresses the benefits and problems of using the Internet for research…

Describes an exercise in which students were presented with audiovisual stimuli intended to induce varying levels of psychological arousal and automatic activation. Explains that the purpose of the exercise was to demonstrate the integral connection between psychological interpretation and reaction to stimuli and physiological response. Presents…

Discusses how undergraduate psychology programs can contribute to a good, general education. Programs can reinforce intellectual skills, such as a sense of history, the ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing, and the ability to think quantitatively. The educational factors influencing sex differences in mathematical ability are…

Describes an instructional model labeled "connected teaching" used in a college developmental psychology course. Employs teaching techniques identified by women as being the type of instruction they desired. Concludes that the overall goal is to convince students that they can actively construct knowledge. (CFR)