First-year students (n=369) at an engineering institute were divided into experimental and control groups and given pre- and post-tests. Experimental groups were taught force concepts in mechanics in a constructivist way. Results found the new method helped students understand the interaction idea of the force concept. (MKR)

In Iowa high schools using instructional materials on total quality management (TQM) livestock practices, 1,099 students (68%) responded to a survey; 732 in a one-year follow-up. Females rated their use of TQM practices higher; 10th and 11th graders had higher ratings than 12th graders. Difficulties in survey administration suggested that…

Computer simulations indicate that the correlation between baseline and change, by itself, does not invalidate the use of gain scores to measure change, but when the negative correlation is accompanied by decrease in variance from pretest to posttest, covariance is a superior measure of change. (SLD)

The explicit, experimental introduction of a series of logical inconsistencies is described and recommended as a means of disrupting the faulty logic and, thereby, enhancing the use of more appropriate probabilistic reasoning by graduate students enrolled in an introductory inferential statistics course. (14 references) (JJK)

Physicians were asked to commit through learning contracts to pre/posttests, seminar attendance, and follow-up tests and surveys in a continuing medical education program on various new treatments. Results indicated lasting gains in knowledge and behavior changes in patient care. (SK)

Describes a pilot study that examined issues encountered when computers were used for a master's degree comprehensive examination. Computer-based testing is discussed; procedures used for administering the exam are detailed; pre- and posttests that examined student attitudes are described; and recommendations for using computers in comprehensive…

Presents a description and evaluation of a microcomputer-based system designed to diagnose errors in basic algorithmic procedures made by students in a college remedial mathematics class. The paper-and-pencil diagnostic test is described, and results of pretests and posttests for the computer group and control group are discussed. (five…

This study questions the effectiveness of a traditional teaching-by-example technique when used with students who hold misconceptions. Interview techniques were used to explore students' (n=21) responses to two different uses of examples and to provide indications of student reasoning. Results indicate that when students hold a misconception,…

Describes a two-year plan for a library instruction program for teaching research skills to junior high school students. An annotated bibliography is presented that includes 14 books and 15 journal articles on instruction in library use, and a pre- and posttest for students is provided. (LRW)

The impact of a newly instituted prime vendor (wholesaler) pharmaceutical system at Veterans Affairs (VA) hospitals was studied at 33 VA centers and 32 matched comparison hospitals. Results indicate satisfaction with the new system and illustrate the solutions to some interesting evaluation problems. (SLD)

Examined stereotypic attitudes of Israeli children toward Arab and Jewish children and their alteration with two 6-week classroom intervention programs. Found that Jewish children held more negative stereotypes toward Arab than toward Jewish children. Found that both textual and audiovisual programs reduced negative Arab stereotypes in comparison…

Used longitudinal data from 307 mothers of firstborn infants participating in a home-visitation, child abuse prevention program in a retrospective pretest methodology. Results shows that when response shift bias was present, the retrospective pretest methodology produced a more legitimate assessment of program outcomes than did the traditional…

Investigated whether kindergarten students who played Sony PlayStation educational video games for 40 minutes daily for 11 weeks learned better than peers who did not play such games. Found that the experimental group gained significantly more than the control group in spelling and decoding on the Wide Range Achievement Test-R3. Found no…

Investigated changes in mathematics anxiety among future teachers in two mathematics materials and methods classes incorporating Bruner's framework of developing conceptual knowledge before procedural knowledge and the use of mathematics manipulatives. Pretest-posttest comparisons showed significant reductions in overall mathematical anxiety,…

Discussion of the four-level model of training evaluation focuses on the need for evaluation at level III, to show that training has been effective and that trainees behave differently on the job. Suggests data collection and measurement methods, including pretraining-posttraining evaluation, action plan audits, simulations, and unobtrusive…