Examines the relationship between school library collections and reading achievement in Los Angeles for both middle school and high school students. Previous studies are reviewed, and current results continue to identify socioeconomic status as the strongest predictor of reading comprehension test scores. (Author/LRW)

Examines low levels of Latino political participation using data from the Latino National Political Survey. Emphasizes differences among Latino subgroups (Mexican, Puerto Rican, and Cuban) when analyzing voter participation. Shows that socioeconomic factors, such as education and income, may be mitigated by life-cycle effect variables, and all are…

Comparison of middle-school-age students with learning disabilities, grouped according to their self-reported ratings of scholastic competence, found significant differences between the low subgroup and the medium/high subgroups on internal locus of control for positive events, school attitudes, and global self-worth. Subgroups did not differ in…

Reports on a study that sought to determine whether adult English-as-a-Second-Language students with internal orientations on two dimensions of locus of control also had positive expectancies about their life situations in the United States and a higher degree of proficiency in their English interlanguage than their counterparts with external…

Examined nonshared environmental (NSE) influences on twin preschoolers' behavior independent of genetics. Found that within-pair parenting differences correlated with monozygotic differences in behavior. For the extreme 10 percent of the parenting-discordant and behavior-discordant distributions, average NSE effect size was 11 percent, suggesting…

Examined relations between early family risk and later maladaptive social information processing and conduct problems among 178 economically disadvantaged boys. Found that early childhood assessments of disadvantage and maternal depression predicted boys' maladaptive response generation and conduct problems at age 10, accounting for 6 and 14…

Presents a detailed account of many of the issues relating to Chinese "secret societies" and the use of triad language. The article emphasizes the pressing need to update and extend intelligent research in this area, particularly with regard to current practices of triad societies and their relationship to organized crime, in Hong Kong…

Uses a survey of educational attainment in urban Taiwan to explore the effects of ability grouping. Argues that because of the nature of educational institutionalization in Taiwan (universal basic education, a national curriculum, entrance examinations governing access to postcompulsory schooling) tracking reduces rather than accentuates the…

Educational and employment programs implemented by the Bureau of Indian Affairs during the 1950s and 1960s relocated thousands of American Indians to urban areas with the assurance of a better life. Focuses on the current status of the American Indian population in the San Francisco Bay area including Indian organizations, tribal group…

Using a social reproduction theory framework, analyzes the process by which high school seniors aspiring to high-level positions are sorted out after graduation. Analyzes early educational attainments and changes in occupational expectations. Shows a process of cumulative disadvantage in which White males are more likely to achieve their goals.…

Evaluates the writing of Hispanic students in bilingual and submersion programs, comparing it with the writing of native English speakers in regular programs. Five dependent variables are evaluated: rhetorical effectiveness, overall quality of writing, productivity, syntactic maturity, and error frequency. (46 references) (Author/OD)

Examines the importance of students' participation in cultural activities as a source of differentiation in the higher education plans of Australian secondary school students. Finds that cultural consumption has a major impact upon boys and a moderate impact upon girls. Proposes that cultural consumption mediates the relationship between social…

Explores the determining factors which influence the dropout rates among Hispanics by analyzing and comparing Chicano, Cuban and Puerto Rican student populations. Factors identified include confrontation, accelerated role taking, social background, school environment, sociopsychological motivation, and immigrant status. Suggests that school…

Describes the advantages of having students work actively together in small groups. Discusses the new roles that both students and teachers must assume in order to successfully implement the strategy in the classroom. (FMW)

Reports two studies analyzing the effects of family background on students' achievement in Thailand and Malawi, using measures of social class valid for developing countries. Found that family background accounted for achievement in both countries, suggesting that previous research may have underestimated these influences. (LS/Author)