Examines methods by which test researchers and practitioners might respond to social and educational demands. Reports on the research which examines human cognition and development. Suggests that understanding how these abilities are acquired can facilitate their acquisition. Proposes a research agenda to redress social problems concerning testing…

Describes the analytical procedure, contextual analysis. Suggests ways to use it to assess the group effects of residence arrangement on student development. Provides an empirical example that shows how contextual analysis may be used to identify the specific dimensions underlying residence group influences on freshman academic performance.…

Results of considering the "at rest" condition of an object with two high school physics classes suggest three instructional factors which apparently aid in the development of students' concepts of force. Includes implications for teaching and an example of a technique fostering concept development. (Author/JN)

Thought papers, research findings, and program descriptions pertaining to science education are presented. Topics include inservice education for primary science, curriculum development, factors affecting science provision for 10- to 14-year-olds, science programs for the gifted, thinking in science lessons, and the nature of scientific knowledge.…

The relationship between anxiety and learning was examined within the context of drive theory and trait-state anxiety theory. Results indicated that trait anxiety had a causal influence on state anxiety and on test performance. The possibility of a reciprocal relationship between state anxiety and performance was suggested. (Author/BH)

A critical review of research on school effectiveness is presented. The research findings are applied in a discussion of the issues of quality of education, resource allocation, and public policies. (JN)

Faculty and students rated profiles of 100 hypothetical instructors. Findings suggest that valid systems of instructional evaluation should focus on amount of information, arousal of student interest, presentation style, and general knowledge of the field. The relative importance of content to style dimensions was slightly greater for faculty…

In classes of four different sizes (16, 23, 30, and 37), teachers' expectations, student achievement in six areas, student and teacher attitudes, student self-concept, and various classroom process variables were studied. Class size effects were only noted for teachers' expectations and for one area of mathematics achievement. (Author/GDC)

Research on the effectiveness and use of college students' evaluation of faculty is reviewed. It is suggested that the research shows student feedback has a minimal effect on instructional improvement at the university level. (MH)

The detrimental effect of evaluating college teachers with student ratings of their performance is illustrated. The author found that he could raise his ratings by reducing the quality of his teaching and concentrating on the improvement of morale among his optometry students at the University of California at Berkeley. (JMD)

In 1976-77 a physical examination course taught by nurse practitioners (NPs) at the University of Arizona College of Medicine was implemented. In 1977-78 a research project examined whether students' ability to perform varied according to whether they were taught by NPs, residents, or physicians; no significant differences were found. (Author/MLW)

Previous "educational seduction" research suggested that teacher differences in expressiveness controlled the degree to which lecture content affected student ratings differently from student achievement. We attempted to replicate this Expressiveness x Content x Measures interaction in four simulated college classes. Student incentive…

Suggests the kinds of communication skills that are predictors of two teaching effectiveness criteria: supervisor and student ratings of teachers. Predictors of supervisor evaluations are teacher's delivery skills and amount of time spent in direct contact with students. Predictors of student evaluation concern teacher dynamism and attitude toward…

Two experiments examined the possibility that student expectations regarding teacher competence can be communicated to the teacher and bring about expected behavior. Results showed significant differences in student attitudes, performance, and nonverbal behavior according to expectation. Positive and negative nonverbal student behaviors had…

The effectiveness of continuing medical education (CME) is reviewed in terms of physician competence, physician performance, and patient health status. Although half the studies published since l960 reported some improvement following CME, methodological shortcomings prevent concluding that the improvements were caused by CME. (Author/MH)