Reports on a study of music listening preferences among undergraduate college music majors, high school musicians in performance groups, and sixth-grade students in eight U.S. sites. Finds instrumental biases among high school and college musicians' preferences for relatively unfamiliar classical music. (CFR)

In a longitudinal study of socialization processes, 182 Finnish students were asked--at ages 15 and 18--about the importance of schooling. At both ages 164 subjects considered schooling had terminal/instrumental value. By age 18 differences in other variables formed a consistent pattern, suggestive of two different life orientations toward…

Identifies imagoes as idealized and personified self-concepts that we form in early or mid-adulthood. These characters dominate life stories and personal myths. Discusses a class exercise where students review the imagoes most frequently used in journal entries concerning individual myths and major life events. (MJP)

Recommends developing a secure, positive sense of one's racial identity through questioning preexisting attitudes and examining the past and present relationships between one's own and other groups. Describes several models of positive ethnic identity development for minority and white students. Discusses the implications of this research for…

Clarifies definitions of simulation, game, drama, and exercise, and describes a study of 17- to 19-year-old students which was designed to determine their public speaking anxiety level after using seven classroom simulations to prepare them for the experience. Students' personal development and behavior throughout the experience are discussed.…

Reports on the reading interests of 450 Russian secondary school graduates enrolled in a mathematics and physics-oriented technical school in Moscow. Finds that students' interests changed during two periods in recent Russian history: (1) 1988-1990--the perestroika period; and (2) 1991-1992--the "market" period. (CFR)

Reports on study in which 81 high school students were interviewed about group stratification and its impact on individual adolescents. Finds many students labeled as "nerds" in middle school were able to improve their self-concept and reconstruct themselves as "normal" in high school. Contends expanded range of school activities and more diverse…

Reports on a study of Russian parental attitudes regarding appropriate age of initial school attendance and decisions regarding secondary education. Finds that 80% of parents of young children support kindergarten education. Includes 14 tables of data from the study. (CFR)

Explores the impact of a personal development project on the attitudes, behavior, and understanding of British high school students. The study circulated questionnaires to students from nine different locations in two districts. Responses clearly demonstrated that Personal Development Planning results in more appropriate choices being made at key…

The purpose of this study is to present information that will help educators to gain a better understanding of microcomputer capabilities and limitations and to inform them as to the role of microcomputers in the classroom. Through examination of studies and articles six topics related to computer-assisted instruction (CAI) are addressed: (1) age…

Reviews research on interactive computer learning. Examines the extent to which learner-computer interaction and learner-learner interaction can interfere with or support one another. Finds that viewing collaborative learning as joint negotiation of a common problem helps to define optimal characteristics of educational software. (CFR)

Describes the personal development of a private-school teacher involved in course restructuring in U.S. history. Lists and discusses the use of seven themes as the basis for the course. Concludes that history, more than any other subject, is linked to personal identity. (CFR)

Discusses a study of psychological development in 37 Soviet ninth and tenth grade students. Applies cluster analysis in categorizing types of self-determination in terms of subjects' estimation of their past, present, and future selves. Finds the most common pattern, a critical attitude toward childhood accompanied by moderately high…