Relationships of student characteristics to student performance/attitudes were explored by meta-analysis for studies for years 1960-1981. Six characteristics (general ability, language ability, mathematics ability, socio-economic status, sex, and race) were selected for inclusion in the study. Indicates strong positive relationships between…

Children's ratings were obtained, examining reciprocal feedback between perceptions of physical attractiveness and ability. Data supported the conclusion that perceptions of ability affect those of physical attractiveness but not vice versa. The role of the relative ambiguity of stimuli associated with physical attractiveness may explain the…

This study recorded and analyzed 96 student discussion groups to identify successful dialogue strategies; to highlight difficulties deriving from group characteristics; and to examine how students behave, what they gain, and which students benefit most. A model of a successful discussion is outlined and study findings considered. (Author/SJL)

Attitudinal differences among first-year polytechnic students towards ways of learning mathematics are investigated in relation to field of study, level of ability, and method of instruction. (RAO)

Compares the reading strategies used by a high achieving English as a second language (ESL) student and a low-achieving native speaker of English during silent reading and concludes that the major differences between the strategies of the two were in the contextual area of reading. (FL)

Two criticisms of the System of Multicultural Pluralistic Assessment (SOMPA) are discussed: the alleged abilities of SOMPA to provide an approximate measure of a child's biological capacity to learn and to obtain an approximate measure of a child's basic potential. (See also TM 504 174.) (MH)

Classroom interaction patterns between male and female students perceived as either high or low achievers were examined in the fall, winter, and spring. Expectation and sex results were consistent with previous findings. Results suggest that teachers make major socialization efforts early in the year. (Author/GDC)

An alternative view to a 1979 study on institutional quality done by Astin and Solomon is presented. The study indicates significant changes in rank have occurred among the 25 most selective four-year undergraduate institutions. Kuh proposes naturalistic inquiry research. A rebuttal by Astin is appended. (MLW)

A discussion of identification procedures and instruments used for the six talent areas of giftedness is provided. The six areas covered include general intellectual ability, specific academic aptitude, creative and productive thinking, leadership abilities, visual and performing arts, and psychomotor skills. (PHR)

An approach to assessment is described in which elementary children's motivation to learn and perceptions of ability and social acceptance are measured, in addition to the more traditional ability and achievement measures. Case studies of 4 gifted children (ages 7-10) are presented to investigate how individual differences in self-perception and…

Reports a study of first-year A-level college students studying a foreign language in southwest England. The results concern students' perceptions of the way they chose their A-level subjects and of those subjects a few weeks into the courses. Results reveal a lack of confidence among the girls despite their superior academic qualifications to the…

Describes a study of Australian secondary school students that identified the conditions and individual characteristics that would best support learners' acceptance of control within hypermedia, based on evidence from the learner control literature. Investigated effects of prior domain knowledge, learning activity structure, ability, and attitudes…

This comment is a response to a paper on noncompletion rates in United Kingdom universities (Johnes and Taylor 1989). The causal inferences are ill founded because they are based on data aggregated to university level. Individual-level data are essential, and data on other levels may also be necessary. (Author/MLW)

Eighty middle-class, ethnically diverse kindergarten (n=40) and fourth-grade (n=40) students rated their current academic competence and predicted their future academic attainment. Results suggest that developmental change in children's judgments about their competence must be understood in terms of interaction between age and classroom…

Investigated the relationships of figural response items and open-ended verbal items in biology to figural and verbal mental aptitudes (n=24). Performance on the verbal items was positively related to verbal ability. Figural response scores were related positively to both figural and verbal abilities. (PR)