Reports a study of classroom environmental variables related to students' views about science. Environmental and attitude scales indicated a wide variety of science classroom environments, teaching philosophies, and teaching expertise. In classrooms with significant student involvement, teacher support, group affiliation, organization, and teacher…

Data for third, sixth, eighth, and twelfth graders from the 1983-84 California Assessment Program are presented to support a new theory on the relationship between the size and performance of school systems. Size appears to be related to the socioeconomic status and performance of schools and school districts. (TJH)

Background characteristics (grade point average, degree level, college quality, major, work experience, and recruitment source) were correlated with performance appraisal scores of 564 entry-level public employees. Although most agency managers surveyed believed performance was linked to those characteristics, grade point average was the only…

Describes a study that examined the effects of personal attributes, organizational factors, and attitudinal factors on the adoption of computers for instruction by university faculty. Results are reported which indicate that the technological orientation of the faculty's discipline, computer self-efficacy, computer utility beliefs, and attitude…

A questionnaire was completed by 463 special educators and 493 general educators in Virginia. Analysis indicated that work-related variables, such as leadership support, role conflict, role ambiguity, and stress, are better predictors of commitment and job satisfaction than are demographic variables. Findings were similar for general and special…

A study investigated the validity of six predictors of academic success after dismissal and reentry: grade point average (GPA) at dismissal, GPA at another school in the interim, composite college entrance examination score, semesters between dismissal and readmission, credits earned elsewhere after dismissal, and instructional level at dismissal.…

Twenty-two preschool children with cognitive delays were observed during independent play at home and group free play at school. Assessed developmental age was more predictive of play behaviors in home independent play than in classroom free play. Findings highlight the need to consider contextual variation associated with play-based assessment…

A study investigated causes of initial interest in and attrition from natural sciences and engineering among 5,320 students entering 4 highly selective institutions in 1988, with attention to probable causes of disproportionate attrition of women. Reasons for high attrition were based on cognitive variables or the perceived "chilly"…

Assessed the cognitive functioning and psychological well-being of women and men of 60 to 74 years, and 75 to 92 years, respectively. Delineated age and gender differences and identified individual differences that predicted memory. The intentional memory of women was more accurate than that of men. Education and gender, along with processing…

Comparison of college students with learning disabilities who either graduated (n=23) or did not graduate (n=17) from college found that the two groups differed on frequency of self-contained placement, duration of private tutoring, high school English courses, and age and prior college experience at college entrance. Gender differences were also…

Telephone interviews were conducted with parents of 1,601 children to investigate the utility of a statewide (Ohio), first-step screening procedure called Developmental Profile II. With developmental delay specified as the outcome variable, six independent variables representing environmental and biological determinants were identified.…

Reviews recent research exploring the relationship between school inputs and student outcomes, focusing on the work of Ronald F. Ferguson (1991). Ferguson's research provides new information about what school inputs are important in predicting outcomes, and where expenditures are most likely to improve student performance. (SLD)

Research on self-concept, attributions, anxiety, depression, and suicide among adolescents with learning disability is examined for the purpose of detecting consistency of emotional and developmental indicators. Analysis indicates that these students appear to be at increased risk for severe depression and suicide. (Author/DB)

This study investigated the relationship between specific teacher evaluation items and course rating by students (n=1,064) at the University of Yaounde (Cameroon). Results suggest variables (such as student increase in interest during the course, overall course organization, and student perceptions of what they are gaining) are most predictive of…

A study of logical reasoning ability of endusers searching a CD-ROM index and its correlation to searching performance was conducted at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Findings showed a correlation between cognitive skills and citation selection and indicated that computer system design can be improved using a cognitive engineering…