Since the medical interview is usually considered to be the basis of all diagnosis and treatment in medicine, this study investigated alternative ways of improving medical interview techniques. To test the hypothesis that the visual (videotape) technique would be more effective than the lecturing or audiotape technique, 12 videotaped interviews…

A 4 x 4 factorial experiment was conducted with 152 college age volunteers to investigate the effects of different forms of mathemagenic information (algorithms, heuristics, attribute elaboration, and attribute isolation) on concept acquisition. Results showed that both definition and instance presentation had a significant effect on students'…

Measures of teacher behavior are related to student achievement in fifth grade reading and mathematics instruction. It was found that those measures of teacher behavior which were generalizable (that is, more highly reliable) were found to be significantly related to student achievement. (JKS)

Research has shown that mental imagery stimulates various types of learning. This research investigates a procedure designed to evoke and enhance mental imagery in a classroom learning situation. The content area selected for study was spelling because so little progress in instructional approaches has been reported in the literature. Compares the…

Investigates the effects of an advance organizer lesson, presenting high-order science concepts and an elementary problem solving strategy for determining causal relations on children's use of operations of exclusion (as defined by Inhelder and Piaget, 1958). Results suggest that acceptable solutions to problems requiring the operations of…

The author illustrates a test-preparation method that involves boardwork by each student in working out practice tests. (MN)

Test-taking skills should be part of learning-disabled students' instruction. Student performance on previous tests should be analyzed to determine lack of information, carelessness, misinterpretation, material not studied, or incorrect reading. Notetaking techniques, language problems, and special problems presented by essay tests and math tests…

Examined participation by 32 nontraditional college students in a test-oriented versus nontest-oriented introductory educational psychology course. Results demonstrated that with nontraditional learners, a nontest-oriented approach to college teaching and evaluation can result in content acquisition comparable to traditional instruction and…

Using a random sample of 68 high school students learning about consumer credit in home economics classes, the study measured learning of an experimental group using computer-assisted instruction and a control group using supervised reading methods. Pretests and posttests indicated greater learning gains in the experimental group. (Author/CH)

A method is suggested to incorporate instruction in the concept and the application of power considerations into an applied statistics course. This is based on designing one table usable for a wide range of the type of statistical tests usually introduced in such a course. (Author)

The authors hypothesize that a means-end strategy places a load on cognitive processing capacity which retards knowledge acquisition. Three experiments using trigonometry problems with high school students were conducted in which the problem goal was modified to disrupt strategy used by novices. Results supported the authors' hypothesis.…

Describes a study of how the verb-form variables of tense, aspect, mode, person, number, and stem and suffix irregularities interact for lower-level students of Spanish to determine if performance can be improved by asking students to monitor an individual variable when many of such variables must be integrated in a particular exercise. (SED)

Discusses the use of computers in schools and presents the factors to be considered before buying a school computer. Presents ways in which computers can be used in language instruction to teach reading, writing, listening, and speaking, to test, to translate, and to impart cultural information. (SED)

A study to investigate attitudes of elementary and secondary school teachers towards testing observed teachers' knowledge, information desired, student acceptance, external constraints, nature and quality of test information, and evaluative uses. Results show that teachers use tests often, have limited testing expertise, and are concerned about…

Evaluated the effectiveness of the MASTERY model in teaching skills to graduate students (N=31) in the administration of the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-Revised (WAIS-R). Results demonstrated that the MASTERY algorithm can be utilized as an effective means of assessing and training clinicians to pre-established competency standards of WAIS-R…