A survey of 415 undergraduate social work students and 203 non-social work students investigated the influence of selected life events and circumstances, prior employment, volunteering, and influential persons. Results indicate social work students were more likely to attribute career choice to problems such as alcoholism and emotional illness…

Describes the practice of federal evaluation of research impact through three approaches: retrospective methods; qualitative methods, including peer review; and quantitative methods. Recommended areas for study in federal research impact assessment are suggested, including predictive reliability, comparative studies, time and cost estimates,…

A study found systematic, structural gender differences between male (n=266) and female (n=144) college students in perceptions of and approaches to learning. It is argued that gender variation in study behavior is an important but often neglected source of variation in student learning that can and should be managed by educators. (Author/MSE)

It is suggested that perceptions of the self, of others, and of the relationship between self and others are very powerful and that this influence is clearly reflected in culture. The independent view of the self, represented in Western culture, is contrasted with the interdependent view in many other cultures. (SLD)

Discusses the undereducated U.S. workforce and the resulting need for workforce education. Highlights include personalized systems of instruction; individualized instructional programs; cognitive processing; prior knowledge; time on task; feedback and assessment; metacognition; motivational links; and the need for a multilayered approach to…

Discusses a course which combines Assessment, Investigation, and Mathematical Skills (A.I.M.S.) to originate, arouse, and sustain student interest in mathematics by changing to a more group-centered, democratic style of classroom management and by shifting toward more self-evaluation on the part of the students. (MKR)

High school physical education students completed questionnaires which represented four psychological variables, and one physical activity variable (exercise adherence) in classroom setting (n=132) and in summer setting (n=110). Found Perceived Romantic Appeal predictive of male exercise adherence and Perceived Athletic Competency, Perceived…

This review examines recent developments in research on social-cognitive theories of motivation during adolescence and the ways in which such research can be applied to the reform of middle grade schools. Results suggest that effective reform must consider the multiple contexts in which students interact. (SLD)

A survey of 105 women pharmacy faculty gathered information on workload elements and priorities, motivations for engaging in research activity, and common avenues for and barriers to scholarship. Suggestions for teachers in overcoming barriers and for administrators in promoting faculty scholarly productivity are offered. (Author/MSE)

Argues that a whole-language approach can help bring social studies to life for students. Explains that the arrangement of terms into a web or map that shows the terms' interrelationships and is one way of using the whole-language approach. Provides guidelines for thematic instruction and a list of potential themes. (SG)

Describes a study that compared drawing and discussion as planning activities for writing, to determine the effects of each upon the quality of narrative writing. Reports that, among second and third grade students, the writing quality of the drawing group was significantly higher. (KM)

Proposes a framework for writing and evaluating scripts for narrative educational television that is aimed at producers and screenwriters and addresses essential elements of effective educational program design. Motivational factors are discussed, the target audience is considered, educational objectives are described, and examples from the Open…

Presents a distance and time map exercise designed as a crime scenario. Explains that students must determine whether one individual could have committed a series of crimes in a given time period. Includes graph production that gives practice in interpreting and expressing aspects of spatial information. (DK)

Argues that Soviet secondary school students' readiness to continue learning is important to pedagogy and the state. Reports research indicating that most tenth grade graduates planned to continue schooling. Concludes that secondary school guidance inadequately promotes some forms of continuing education. Reveals student attitudes about various…

Presents a study of task liking and intrinsic motivation using self-esteem, task label, and feedback analysis of variance. Reports that, for subjects with high self-esteem, feedback had strong impact on liking of a difficult task. Concludes that, for subjects with low self-esteem, feedback had strong impact on liking easy tasks. (DK)