Reports a study to investigate the factors that affect science achievement in rural secondary schools. Data from multiple sources provided a profile of the science programs and teachers, and factor analysis identified groupings related to science achievement that included teacher variables, student and teacher attendance, and teacher in-service…

Three studies involving 79 teacher leaders, 4 school empowerment experts, and 387 secondary school teachers indicate that the 38-item School Participant Empowerment Scale (SPES) may tap 6 dimensions of empowerment within the school organization identified in the literature. The SPES effectively measures perceived empowerment in school settings.…

Surveys urban school principals about desirable alternative education programs for low-achieving students, and identifies schools and programs that have been effective in promoting educational excellence in this population. Explores the nature of effective schools, and examines the principal's role in establishing models for educating children in…

Describes a study that was conducted with junior baccalaureate nursing students to determine effects of learning style preferences, attitudes, and grade point average (GPA) on learner achievement when using computer-assisted interactive videodisc instruction (CAIVDI). Results are reported that indicate a strong and positive influence of attitude…

This study of 1,477 rating forms on students (grades 6-12) with mild disabilities attending mainstream vocational courses found that curriculum-based vocational assessment is a feasible means of assessing student career/vocational behaviors and skills. A two-factor solution representing work-related behaviors and generalized instructional outcomes…

Students (n=300) referred for special education and diagnosed as learning disabled, mentally retarded, or not eligible were examined to determine the differential contribution of sociocultural variables on eligibility decisions within the context of intelligence test factors. Factors analyzed included verbal comprehension, perceptual organization,…

Surveys 116 urban school principals to determine their viewpoints on the academic needs of high-risk students. Results reveal five critical areas where improvement is considered essential. A common theme is that more attention should be given to affective resources, including counseling, transitional programs, and alternative classroom structures.…

A peer nomination assessment of 5 domains of children's competence was administered to 1,249 elementary school students. Factor analysis revealed two positive and two negative factors. Results indicate the structure of peer's perceptions of children's competence, and justify use of the measure to complement other methods of evaluation. (SLD)

An epistemological questionnaire assessing student beliefs about simple knowledge, certain knowledge, quick learning, and fixed ability to learn was administered to more than 1,000 high school students. Results demonstrate some epistemological development during high school and suggest that epistemological beliefs predict grade point average. (SLD)

Used new administration procedure of Self Description Questionnaire to assess dimensions of young children's self-concept in a multicohort-multioccasion study. Found that the scale's reliability and stability improved with age and from one year to the next. Gender differences were stable over age. Time 1 teacher ratings contributed to the…

Discusses the major findings of the 1988-89 study that investigated the impact of school library media centers on academic achievement in Colorado public schools. Highlights include research methodology; the effects of staff size, collection variety, funding, and library media specialists' instructional role; and suggestions for further research.…

Examined the underlying factor structure of a rating scale to assess perceived barriers and supports for early childhood inclusion. Identified a single support factor and three barrier factors with adequate internal consistency: (1) program quality; (2) community resources; and (3) coordinating and integrating services for children with…

Two studies of second graders at risk for reading disability, which were guided by levels of language and functional reading system theory, focused on reading comprehension in this population. In Study 1 (n = 96), confirmatory factor analysis of five comprehension measures loaded on one factor in both fall and spring of second grade. Phonological…

The relations between motivational constructs, effort, self-efficacy and worry, and statistics achievement were investigated in a sample of 360 undergraduates in Malaysia. Both trait (cross-situational) and state (task-specific) measures of each construct were used to test a mediational trait (r) state (r) performance (TSP) model. As hypothesized,…

The relationship between university students' perceptions of their academic environment, their approaches to study, and academic outcomes was investigated for first and fourth-final year students. The responses of 88 first and 92 fourth year students were analysed using a path analysis model. Students' perceptions of the learning environment were…