Research on voluntary college mergers led to development of a model predicting the probability of a merger with 80-100 percent accuracy. The model was based on fundamental governing board concerns about mission, risk, and reputation. Results reveal the merger negotiation process is dynamic and reveals characteristics of successful approaches. (MSE)

Examined factors that would predict both academically successful and at-risk freshmen engineering students. Found 12 variables were correlated with grade point ratio for the 114 participants in first year of study. Applied algorithm for predicting students at risk developed in first year to 317 students and found that it more accurately assigned…

A survey of 253 female and 235 male college freshmen showed that (1) males disagreed more that women can combine scientific careers and family; (2) females agreed less that scientists are asocial; (3) females rated people-related work values more highly; and (4) males intending to study science anticipated greater difficulties for women attempting…

Discusses the importance prior knowledge plays in learning in the content areas. Discusses previewing pictures as a prereading activity and presents a picture analysis activity which can be used to activate prior knowledge to use as a foundation for good bridge building. (MG)

Follow-up of 115 young adults 8 years after high school aptitude and interest testing showed that aptitude-job correspondence predicted satisfactory performance. Interest-job correspondence and satisfactoriness predicted different measures of satisfaction, only when current interests were used. (SK)

The congruence among students' predictions of grades before taking short-answer and essay tests, their estimations of grades after taking the tests, and the actual grades was studied for 69 college students. There was a significant, but slight, positive relationship between students' judgments and their actual grades. (SLD)

This paper speculates on the coming century's opportunities and challenges for the Alexander Graham Bell Association. Medical advancements prolonging life and the subsequent increase in the elderly population are discussed, as are computer and telecommunications advances. Futurists' predictions of increasing disposable income and social conscience…

Sixty young children estimated their performance in beanbag throwing. In the three prediction conditions, subjects articulated the differences between their performance and their predictions, only observed the difference, or were unable to observe their performance. Results indicated subjects were aware of differences between performance and…

Describes the Bajema strategy for teaching meiosis and how it is used in the general genetics course at Ball State University and can be used to identify students who have misconceptions of meiosis that can interfere with their learning the basics of Mendelian inheritance. (Contains 11 references.) (MDH)

A study of 5-year olds' ability to distinguish promises from predictions was suspected to have achieved its results due to methodological problems. A similar study with 32 children ages 5 to 6 that used several variations of the previous study's procedures was found to have similar results, suggesting the earlier findings were an accurate…

Considers the empirical validity of the Graduate Record Examinations (GRE) as a predictor of performance in a graduate psychology program. Data for 167 graduate psychology students suggest that the GRE is predictive for first-year grades but not other kinds of performance, with the exception that male performance on the GRE Analytical test was…

Examined emergent literacy in preschool children, interviewing low-income parents and observing children whom preschool teachers predicted would make either good or poor literacy progress. The study investigated what parents did with their children before primary school. Most children had rich literacy experiences, often specifically targeting…

Research findings using data from the Tennessee Value-Added Assessment System (TVAAS) database has shown that race, socioeconomic level, class size, and classroom heterogeneity are poor predictors of student academic growth. TVAAS findings indicate that teacher effectiveness is the main determinant of student academic progress. (SLD)

Considers derivation of the strategy concept and its deployment as a managerial planning technique. Examines the related growth of school development planning, exploring ways it might be considered strategic. Using strategy in organizations is no longer either possible or appropriate. Proposes an alternative planning basis derived from marginal…

Analyzes the importance of incorporating both individual and neighborhood risk factors into predictive mental health needs assessment models. Data from the Epidemiologic Catchment Area Survey and the 1980 Census suggest that, with the exception of neighborhood social rank, neighborhood social area dimensions rarely make substantive contributions…